Cannabinoid Receptors and Kidney Malignancy: What You Need to Know

One of the most prevalent reasons that people use medical hemp products is for malignant tumors. Whether it’s for relief from discomfort, dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy and other medications, or for other reasons, between 25% and 40% of these patients use hemp. One question that researchers are still exploring is why medical hemp has the impact it does on patients. Today, we’re going to talk a little bit about how cannabinoids interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system, and look at a study that examines how hemp may have an impact on kidney tumor patients. 

Please note that this statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We are only providing this study analysis for educational and informative purposes.

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

In order to understand how and why hemp interacts with the body, we need to know what exactly it’s interacting with. Cannabinoids– the chemical compounds found in hemp– interact with a bodily system called the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS plays a crucial role in regulating a range of functions and processes in the body, including sleep, mood, appetite, memory, and reproduction.

Components of the Endocannabinoid System

The ECS is composed of three main components:

• Endocannabinoids: These are molecules made by your body. They’re similar to cannabinoids, but they’re produced internally. The two key endocannabinoids identified so far are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG). These help keep internal functions running smoothly.
• Receptors: These receptors are found throughout the body and are the sites where endocannabinoids bind. The two primary receptors are:
  • CB1 Receptors: Located mainly in the central nervous system, including the brain. They are involved in functions such as coordination, movement, discomfort, appetite, memory, mood, and other functions.
  • CB2 Receptors: Found primarily in the peripheral nervous system, especially in immune cells. They are important for regulating swelling and the body’s immune response to pathogens.
• Enzymes: Once the endocannabinoids have carried out their function, they are broken down by enzymes. The two main enzymes responsible for this are fatty acid amide hydrolase, which breaks down AEA, and monoacylglycerol acid lipase, which breaks down 2-AG.

The Role of CB Receptors in the ECS

CB receptors are integral to the ECS’s functionality. There are two types: CB1 and CB2.

• CB1 Receptors: Predominantly found in the brain, they play a significant role in neural communication and influence cognitive functions such as memory, mood, and discomfort perception. Their activation can affect processes like appetite and motor control.
• CB2 Receptors: These are primarily found in peripheral organs and are especially abundant in the immune system. They help modulate the immune response and manage swelling. Their role is extremely important in maintaining immune system balance and responding to injury or disease.

The ECS, through its receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymes, works to maintain homeostasis, ensuring that various physiological systems function well. This system’s complexity and widespread influence highlight its potential as a therapeutic target for various medical conditions, including discomfort, swelling, and even malignancy– which is what today’s study explores.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a type of kidney malignancy that accounts for about 3% of all malignancies. Today’s study aimed to investigate the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors in RCC and their potential roles as prognostic markers or therapeutic targets.

Study Methodology

The study retrospectively analyzed tissue samples from 87 patients diagnosed with RCC. The samples were examined to determine the presence and intensity of CB1R and CB2R using immunohistochemical methods. The results were then correlated with various clinical parameters, such as tumor stage, histological type, and patient demographics.

CB Receptors and RCC

The two types of CB receptors responded very differently in the RCC samples. Interestingly, CB1R was not expressed in any of the RCC samples. This absence could be due to several reasons, including technical issues with the antibody used or the possibility that CB1R is not expressed in RCC tissues. However, CB2R was highly expressed in 89.7% of the RCC samples. The expression of CB2R varied in intensity, with some samples showing higher levels than others.

The study found significant correlations between CB2R expression and certain patient characteristics. Men had a higher percentage of CB2R expression. Also, patients with chromophobe RCC, a subtype of RCC with generally favorable prognosis, showed higher CB2R expression. And higher CB2R intensity was associated with more advanced tumor stages. 

These findings suggest that CB2R could potentially serve as a prognostic marker in RCC. A prognostic marker is a characteristic that can be measured before treatment to predict a patient’s likely health outcome, such as disease progression, recurrence, or survival. The absence of CB1R and the prevalence of CB2R indicate that targeting CB2R could be a useful therapeutic strategy in treating RCC.

Cannabinoid Receptors in Tumor Research

Cannabinoid receptors have been studied extensively in various malignancies. Their role is complex, involving mechanisms like the induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death), inhibition of tumor cell growth and development, and anti-angiogenic effects (preventing the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow).

For instance, CB1R has been found to be upregulated in certain tumors such as prostate and pancreatic but downregulated in others like breast. Similarly, CB2R has shown potential as a prognostic marker in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, where higher expression is associated with shorter survival.

The expression patterns of these receptors and their impact on tumor biology suggest that cannabinoids or drugs targeting these receptors could be explored for therapeutic development. However, their exact role and potential benefits in various conditions remain an active area of research.

Medical Hemp for Patients

All malignant diseases are complex, and treating and beating them is complicated. These patients have to make many decisions about managing their discomfort and wellness, and at Myriam’s Hemp, we believe that everybody should have the information they need to make decisions about their health. Our catalog of premium hemp products is formulated for ultimate quality and purity. Contact us today to learn more about which cannabinoid product is right for your needs.

References

Choucair N, Saker Z, Kheir Eddine H, Bahmad HF, Fares Y, Zaarour M, Harati H, Nabha S. Immunohistochemical assessment of cannabinoid type-1 receptor (CB1R) and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters in glioma. Pathologica. 2022 Apr;114(2):128-137.

Deligiannis, D., Anastasiou, I., Mitropoulos, D., Mitsos, P., & Theocharis, S. (2024). Clinical Importance of Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor (CB1R) and Cannabinoid Type 2 Receptor (CB2R) Expression in Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cureus, 16(2), e55121. 

Grinspoon, P. The endocannabinoid system: Essential and mysterious. Harvard Health. Available online: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-endocannabinoid-system-essential-and-mysterious-202108112569 

Lu HC, Mackie K. Review of the Endocannabinoid System. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging. 2021 Jun;6(6):607-615. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.07.016. Epub 2020 Aug 1. PMID: 32980261; PMCID: PMC7855189.

Pennant NM, Hinton CV. The evolution of cannabinoid receptors in tumors. WIREs Mech Dis. 2023 Jul-Aug;15(4):e1602.

Worster B et al., Cannabis Use in Patients With Tumors: A Clinical Review. JCO Oncol Pract 18, 743-749(2022).