Câncer

Câncer é um nome genérico usado para classificar um grande grupo de doenças que se manifestam devido ao crescimento descontrolado de células anormais. As células saudáveis de um organismo estão em constante desenvolvimento, se dividindo e morrendo. O câncer é diagnosticado quando as células de uma parte do corpo começam a crescer fora de controle. Na maioria das vezes as células cancerosas formam um tumor e seguem crescendo, em vez de morrer, podendo ainda invadir outros tecidos saudáveis através da corrente sanguínea dos vasos linfáticos, um processo chamado de metástase. De acordo com o Instituto Nacional de Câncer, a cada ano, cerca de 600 mil novos casos são diagnosticados no Brasil. Quando não são tratados, os cânceres podem levar a doenças mais graves e à morte.

O câncer é considerado uma doença genética porque é causado por alterações nos genes que controlam a forma pela qual as células funcionam. Apesar destas alterações serem hereditárias, elas também podem se manifestar durante a vida de uma pessoa. Existe mais de 100 tipos de cânceres, comumente denominados pelo órgão ou tecido afetado.

O tratamento da doença depende do local e o quão avançada ela se encontra. No entanto, existe um número de tratamentos que incluem: cirurgia (o que envolve a remoção do tumor canceroso); terapia com radiação (utiliza altas doses de radiação para matar as células doentes e encolher os tumores); quimioterapia (utiliza drogas para matar as células afetadas); imunoterapia (o que ajuda o sistema imunológico a lutar contra o câncer); terapia hormonal (retarda ou interrompe o crescimento do câncer que se desenvolve com base em hormônios); terapia direcionada (tem como alvo as alterações nas células cancerosas que as ajudam a crescer e se dividirem) e transplante de células tronco, envolvendo um procedimento que restaura células tronco que formam sangue em pessoas que tiveram as suas destruídas por outros tratamentos contra a doença.

Descobertas: efeitos da canabis no câncer

Evidências sugerem que a canabis tem o potencial de inibir o crescimento e até matar as células cancerosas, enquanto ajuda os pacientes a gerenciar os sintomas associados aos tratamentos da doença. Após avaliar a literatura disponível, uma revisão recente das pesquisas concluiu que a canabis possui propriedades antitumorais e é eficaz no alívio da dor, náusea e vômitos em pacientes com câncer 107.

Dois dos principais canabinoides encontrados na canabis, o THC (tetraidrocanabinol) e o CBD (canabidiol), ativam os receptores canabinoides CB1 e CB2 do sistema endocanabinoide. A ativação destes receptores por canabinoides pode desencadear efeitos antitumorais em um número de cânceres agressivos. O THC e o CBD têm demonstrado inibir a progressão de cânceres de mama, pulmão, próstata e intestinos em modelos com animais, sugerindo que os canabinoides também podem ser eficazes na mediação da morte de células cancerosas em humanos 35,53,63,74.

Em outro estudo, com humanos, o CBDa – CBD em sua forma acídica – demonstrou possuir a capacidade de desregular as células cancerosas da mama, evitando seu crescimento 93. Em 2016, a mesma equipe de pesquisadores descobriu que o CBDa é capaz de inibir a migração das células cancerosas da mama ao identificar que este efeito estava associado à desregulação do proto-oncogene c-Fos e da enzima cicloxigenase-2 94. A canabis há muito já demonstrou ser capaz de oferecer alívio aos pacientes que sofrem com a náusea relacionada aos tratamentos de câncer. Estudos descobriram que o CBD é eficaz no tratamento de sintomas mais difíceis de controlar como a náusea, assim como na prevenção da náusea antecipatória relacionada aos pacientes em quimioterapia 56,76. Outro estudo descobriu que o THC é eficaz na redução da rejeição condicionada e náusea induzida pela quimioterapia 54.

A canabis também tem demonstrado ser eficaz na diminuição das dores neuropáticas que tratamentos tradicionais não conseguem gerenciar 108. Em um estudo, pacientes com câncer que apresentavam dores de difícil controle que haviam tentado sem sucesso gerenciar seu desconforto com opioides obtiveram reduções significativas dos níveis de dor após serem tratadas com canabis contendo tanto THC quanto CBD durante duas semanas 47.

A perda de peso e apetite causada por náuseas são efeitos colaterais comuns no tratamento do câncer. No entanto, o THC tem mostrado estimular significativamente o apetite de pacientes que apresentam caquexia, uma síndrome complexa e multifatorial que se caracteriza pela perda de peso e apetite, atrofia muscular, fadiga e fraqueza 46,70. Os pacientes tratados com THC têm um melhor apetite e relatam que os alimentos têm um “sabor melhor” 10. A habilidade de estimular o apetite de pacientes com câncer é significativa no auxílio à prevenção da caquexia associada aos tratamentos da doença.

Uma pesquisa que analisou os efeitos da canabis em 131 pacientes com câncer após 6-8 semanas de tratamento apresentou melhorias significativas de todos os sintomas mensuráveis associados à doença, como náusea, vômito, transtorno de humor, anorexia, constipação, disfunção sexual, distúrbios do sono, coceiras e dores 3. Os pacientes tratados com THC também experimentam melhoria no sono e relaxamento 10. O Instituto Nacional do Câncer, uma organização administrada pelo Departamento de Saúde e Serviços Humanos dos Estados Unidos, reconhece a canabis como um tratamento eficaz no alívio de uma série de sintomas associados ao câncer, incluindo dor, náusea e vômito, ansiedade e perda de apetite 15.

Estudos recentes sobre os efeitos da canabis no câncer

• CBDA inibe a migração das células cancerosas da mama. Desregulação selecionada do c-Fos mediada por ácido canabidiólico em células MDA-MB-231 de cânceres de mama agressivos: possível envolvimento de sua desregulação na revogação da agressividade.
  http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11418-016-1030-0
• Revisão de pesquisa conclui que a canabis tem efeitos antitumorais e é eficaz na redução de dor, náusea e vômito induzido por quimioterapia. Uso da maconha medicinal na oncologia: uma revisão
  http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2504173
• Estudos com animais demonstraram que o CBD derivado da canabis inibe a progressão de muitos tipos de câncer (glioblastoma, mama, pulmão, próstata, intestino). A atividade antitumoral de canabinoides não psicoativos derivados de plantas.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4470774/
• A canabis causa uma melhoria significativa da náusea, vômito, transtornos de humor, fadiga, perda de peso, anorexia, constipação, função sexual, distúrbios do sono, coceira e dores em pacientes com câncer após 6-8 semanas de uso. A necessidade médica de canabis medicinal: estudo prospectivo observacional avaliando o tratamento de pacientes com câncer em cuidados paliativos e de apoio.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3730175/

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