Seminar

Towards the utilization of cannabinoid as antitumoral agents

Guillermo Velasco, PhD

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active ingredient of marijuana, and other cannabinoids are being actively investigated as therapeutic agents for the management of different pathologies including cancer.In Dr. Velasco's laboratory they have studied the molecular mechanisms by which these agents inhibit tumor growth with the aim of facilitating the design of new cannabinoid-based treatments for cancer. In this talk, Dr. Velasco will review the signaling mechanisms by which cannabinoids stimulate cancer cell death paying particular attention to the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy in this effect. In addition, the mechanisms of resistance to THC anticancer action as well as the recent advances obtained in the development of cannabinoid-based combinational therapies for the management of gliomas will be summarized.