Medicinal cannabis for symptom control in advanced cancer: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial of 1:1 tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol
Mené sur 144 patients atteints d'un cancer de stade avancé, cet essai randomisé évalue l'intérêt du cannabis thérapeutique, sous forme d'huile combinant tétrahydrocannabinol et cannabidiol, pour soulager leurs symptômes
Purpose: Patients with cancer commonly access cannabis hoping to relieve their symptoms. This study assessed whether a 1:1 10 mg/ml THC:CBD combination oil could improve total symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer over that provided by palliative care alone.
Methods: Participants were randomised to medicinal cannabis (MC) or placebo oil; dose escalated over 14 days according to tolerance and efficacy and continued to day 28. Symptoms assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were summated to give a total symptom distress score (TSDS). The primary outcome measure was the change from baseline in TSDS at day 14. Secondary outcomes included individual symptom scores, opioid use, participant-selected dose, QoL, psychological symptoms, global impression of change (GIC), and adverse effects.
Results: The pre-planned sample size of 120 at day 14 was reached following the randomisation of 144 patients. Mean (SD) TSDS improved over time in both arms (− 6.30 (12.3) MC, − 6.98 (12.56) placebo, p = 0.76) to day 14 with no difference between arms. A statistically significant improvement in ESAS pain scores in the MC arm (mean (SD) − 1.42 (2.15) MC and − 0.46 (2.83) placebo, p = 0.04) was at the expense of greater psychomimetic toxicity. Improvement in general well-being was greater for the placebo. GIC and the pain component of QoL both favoured MC.
Conclusions: Patients can be informed that a 1:1 THC:CBD combination cannabis oil was no better than palliative care alone in palliating symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. A small benefit in pain control was associated with greater toxicity.
Supportive Care in Cancer , résumé, 2025