The Anticancer Potential of Phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa:Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications - A ComprehensiveReview

Phytocannabinoids are a large family of over 150 bioactive compounds derived from Cannabis sativa L., known for their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities. Increasing experimental evidence indicates that these molecules possess significant anticancer potential through complex interactions with multiple cellular signaling networks. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that phytocannabinoids exert antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, and antimetastatic effects in various cancers, including breast, lung, prostate, colorectal cancer, and melanoma. Their mechanisms of action involve the modulation of key signaling pathways such as MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and mTOR, the regulation of oxidative stress, and the activation of apoptotic cascades leading to programmed cell death. Furthermore, phytocannabinoids influence cell cycle progression, inhibit tumor cell invasion and migration, and can enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. In addition to interacting with several molecular targets, they affect the tumor microenvironment, notably via anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. Overall, these findings reflect the pleiotropic role of phytocannabinoids in the direct and indirect modulation of tumor biology. While strong preclinical evidence supports their anticancer activity, robust clinical trials are still required to establish their safety profile, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic effects in humans. Phytocannabinoids are, therefore, a promising class of natural compounds that could contribute to improving existing anticancer therapies, given their wide array of molecular mechanisms.