Phytocannabinoids in the treatment of cancer

Abstract

This invention relates to the use of phytocannabinoids, either in an isolated form or in the form of a botanical drug substance (BDS) in the treatment of cancer. Preferably the cancer to be treated is cancer of the prostate, cancer of the breast or cancer of the colon.

1 . A cannabis plant extract comprising a phytocannabinoid containing component and a non-phytocannabinoid containing component, for use in medicine, wherein the phytocannabinoid containing component comprises at least 50% (w/w) of the cannabis plant extract and the non-phytocannabinoid containing component comprises a monoterpene fraction and a sesquiterpene fraction, in which a principal monoterpene sub-fraction is selected from myrcenes or pinenes and a principal sesquiterpene sub-fraction is selected from caryophyllenes or humulenes. 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising administrating to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a cannabis plant extract comprising a phytocannabinoid containing component and a non-phytocannabinoid containing component, wherein the phytocannabinoid containing component comprises at least 50% (w/w) of the cannabis plant extract and the non-phytocannabinoid containing component comprises a monoterpene fraction and a sesquiterpene fraction and wherein a principal monoterpene sub-fraction is selected from myrcenes or pinenes and a principal sesquiterpene sub-fraction is selected from caryophyllenes or humulenes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cannabis plant extract is used in the treatment of cancer. 
     
     
         4 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The cannabis plant extract of  claim 1 , wherein a principal phytocannabinoid is selected from the group consisting of: tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol propyl variant (CBGV), tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabigerol (CBG), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBC). 
     
     
         8 . The cannabis plant extract of  claim 1 , wherein the non-phytocannabinoid containing component further comprises one or more compounds from the group consisting of: diterpenes; triterpenes; sterols; triglycerides; alkanes; squalenes; tocopherols; and carotenoids. 
     
     
         9 .- 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A method of treating a subject with prostate cancer, comprising administrating to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of one or more phytocannabinoids, selected from the group consisting of: tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCVA), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromene (CBC), wherein, where present, the THCVA is present as an isolated phytocannabinoid, the THCA, CBDA, CBD, CBG or CBC are present in the form of a botanical drug substance (BDS), and the THCV or CBDV are present in either an isolated form or in the form of a BDS. 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the one or more phytocannabinoids are propyl variant phytocannabinoids. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the one or more phytocannabinoids are in an acid form. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the one or more phytocannabinoids are in a neutral or decarboxylated form. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the phytocannabinoid is CBG. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the phytocannabinoid is CBD. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the phytocannabinoid is in the form of a BDS. 
     
     
         69 .- 79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . A method of treating a pre-cancerous symptom of colon cancer, comprising administrating to the subject an isolated cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabidivarin (CBDV), CBD botanical drug substance (BDS), CBG BDS and/or CBDV BDS. 
     
     
         81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein pre-cancerous symptom of colon cancer is aberrant crypts in the colon. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein pre-cancerous symptom of colon cancer is colon polyps. 
     
     
         84 .- 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the one or more phytocannabinoids are used in combination or as an adjunct therapy with a chemotherapeutic agent and/or an anti-androgen. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prostate cancer is hormone sensitive prostate cancer. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the prostate cancer is hormone insensitive prostate cancer.