Targeting carbohydrate metabolism in colorectal cancer - synergy between DNA-damaging agents, cannabinoids, and intermittent serum starvation.

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a therapy of choice for many cancers. However, it is often inefficient for long-term patient survival and is usually accompanied by multiple adverse effects. The adverse effects are mainly associated with toxicity to normal cells, frequently resulting in immune system depression, nausea, loss of appetite and metabolic changes. In this respect, the combination of chemotherapy with cannabinoids, especially non-psychoactive, such as cannabidiol, cannabinol and other minor cannabinoids, as well as terpenes, may become very useful. This is especially pertinent because the mechanisms of anticancer effects of cannabinoids on cancer cells are often different from conventional chemotherapeutics. In addition, cannabinoids help alleviate chemotherapy-induced adverse effects, regulate sleep and appetite, and are shown to have analgesic properties. Another component for achieving potential anti-cancer synergism is regulating nutrient availability and metabolism by calorie restriction and intermittent fasting in cancer cells. As tumours require a lot of energy to grow and because glucose is constantly available, malignant cells often opt to use glucose as a primary source of ATP production through substrate-level phosphorylation (fermentation) rather than through oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, periodic depletion of cancer cells of primary fuel, glucose, could result in a strong synergy in killing cancer cells by chemo- and possibly radiotherapy when combined with cannabinoids. This commentary will discuss what is known about such combinatorial treatments, including potential mechanisms and future protocols.