| Journal | Journal of the National Cancer Institute |
| Study Type | Observational Study |
| Population | Human participants |
This item covers developments relevant to cannabis medicine and clinical practice. Clinicians monitoring evidence in this area should review the source material.
Cannabis use for symptom management among patients with cancer has increased significantly in recent years, with many reporting benefits for pain, anxiety, sleep, nausea, appetite as well as other symptoms. However, rigorous prospective data on the potential benefits and harms of cannabis use in this population are lacking. This Commentary describes a United States National Cancer Institute (NCI)-led initiative addressing this research gap by supporting five prospective observational studies evaluating the benefits and harms of cannabis use among a large, heterogeneous samples of patients with cancer undergoing active systemic treatment. We provide an overview of each study, including cancer type, treatment modalities, inclusion/exclusion criteria, data collection methods, and both patient-reported and cancer-related outcomes.
“This is a development worth tracking. The clinical implications will become clearer as more evidence accumulates.”
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FAQ
Why are people with cancer using cannabis?
Many patients with cancer use cannabis for symptom management, and this use has increased significantly in recent years. Patients report benefits for pain, anxiety, sleep, nausea, appetite, and other symptoms. These are benefits that patients themselves describe.
Is there good research on the benefits and harms of cannabis in cancer?
Not yet. The commentary states that rigorous prospective data on the potential benefits and harms of cannabis use among patients with cancer are lacking, even though use for symptom management has grown. This research gap is what the National Cancer Institute initiative described in the commentary aims to address.
What is the National Cancer Institute doing to study cannabis in cancer?
The NCI is leading an initiative that supports five prospective observational studies. These studies evaluate the benefits and harms of cannabis use in large, heterogeneous samples of patients with cancer who are undergoing active systemic treatment. The initiative is described in a commentary published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
What information does the commentary give about each NCI-supported study?
The commentary provides an overview of each of the five studies. It covers the cancer types studied, treatment modalities, inclusion and exclusion criteria, data collection methods, and both patient-reported and cancer-related outcomes. The article summary does not report results from these studies.
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