Potential, Limitations and Risks of Cannabis-Derived Products in Cancer Treatment
It is easy to find success stories on the internet of patients with cancer who seem to benefit from using cannabis products. However, scientific substantiation is usually lacking. Therefore, there are critical questions among clinicians and other healthcare providers about the potential of cannabis products in cancer care. In this article, we aim to give direction for making choices about the responsible use of cannabis products in oncology by addressing the following questions: How does cannabis work? What is medicinal cannabis? What kind of cannabis products are in use? What is their legal status? Is there evidence for therapeutic effects in patients with cancer? What is the risk–benefit balance in terms of adverse effects, (potential) drug interactions, symptom management and antitumour activity? May cannabis products provide added value in the treatment of patients with cancer? We end up with an outlook and perspective determining the place of cannabis products in oncology.