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Protective effects of cannabidiol in combined chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity

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Project Description

Doxorubicin, an anthracycline, is one of the most effective and commonly used drugs for the treatment of cancer. This anthracycline is used both alone and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents such as taxanes e.g. paclitaxel. Despite its success as an anti-cancer agent, doxorubicin alone and in combination with paclitaxel, is one of the most toxic anthracyclines in clinical use and induces both acute (atrial and ventricular arrhythmias) and chronic (heart failure) cardiotoxic effects. At present the only preventative strategy available for doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) is to limit the amount of anthracycline administered, however clinical data suggests this approach is not entirely successful. Cannabidiol (CBD; derived from the cannabis plant) has been shown to exert numerous cytoprotective effects including antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects. Recently, CBD has been shown to improve cardiovascular function in a rat model of DIC and prevent the development of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain in mice. However, it is unknown whether CBD can protect against anthracycline-taxane combined therapy induced cardiotoxicity and thus the proposed the project will investigate this.

Status Project Complete
Funder(s) Medical Research Scotland
Value £2,000.00
Project Dates Jul 8, 2019 - Sep 1, 2019

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