The development of toxic side effects caused by standard treatments of several aggressive incurable diseases has led medical practitioners and their patients to seek alternative therapies. As a result, contemplation of unorthodox systems such as the Endocannabinoid System and the Neuroendocrine system is currently being considered as promising targets for the treatment of unresponsive diseases. Cannabidiol (CBD) the second most abundant cannabinoid found in the Cannabis plant has been shown to exert therapeutic effects in an array of different pathologies due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-psychotic, and anti-anxiolytic effects. Moreover, given its safety profile and lack of hazardous adverse effects, it is the focus of many clinical studies for the treatment of terminal and untreatable diseases such as cancers, epilepsies, social anxiety disorders, and others. On the other hand, Oxytocin is a neuropeptide secreted in several areas of the central nervous system (brain and cerebrospinal fluid) and peripheral tissues (heart, placenta, uterus, testis). It is present in various social behaviors such as birth-giving, breastfeeding, offspring care, and pair bonding. Also, Oxytocin has been shown to modulate pain control, emotional processing, motor function, learning, stress anxiety. Thus, the combination of CBD with Oxytocin is a promising but unexplored therapy that in theory could be effective to treat various types of pathologies.
In a phase 2 preliminary clinical study led by the Institute of Biological Medicine in Italy researchers assessed the synergistic effect of CBD (10mg twice/day), Melatonin (100mg/day in the evening), 5-methoxytryptamine (10mg/day in the morning), and Oxytocin (2mg twice/day) in 14 patients diagnosed with advanced and unresponsive cancers (Breast Cancer, Glioblastoma, and gynecologic tumors). Researchers found that even though patients’ tumors were not regressing, up to 57% of them achieved a stable disease status where the tumors were not worsening. Moreover, 50% of the patients were able to survive for more than a year. Finally, 64% of the patients displayed an improvement in life quality by being benefited from their treatment in their quality of sleep, relief of anxiety, asthenia, anorexia, cachexia, improvement of mood, affective and emotional relationships, and pleasure perception.
Meanwhile, a preliminary study led by the Institute of Biological Medicine in Italy evaluated the therapeutic effects of combining CBD, Melatonin, and Oxytocin for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. A sample of 30 patients consisting of males and females between the ages of 6 and 27 were given either Melatonin alone (100mg/day before sleep), Melatonin plus CBD (10mg twice/day), or Melatonin plus CBD plus Oxytocin (2mg twice/day). Patients were then given psychotherapy to assess the efficiency of the treatment. The clinical results showed that the combination of therapies was the most effective in treating sleeping disturbances, anxiety attacks, and unhealthy affective relationships. Moreover, patients did not show any adverse effects from any of the treatments.
The concomitant targeting of the Endocannabinoid and Neuroendocrine system is one of the most promising therapies for the healing of various treatable and untreatable pathologies. Due to its mechanism of action where it takes advantage of the inherited systems in our body, it makes it ideal to avoid unwanted hazardous side effects. Researchers in both studies concluded that randomized studies should follow-up these promising results to evaluate in a detailed manner the benefits of a concomitant therapy between Cannabinoids and Neuroendocrine agents in patients suffering from diseases due to imbalances in their Endocannabinoid and Neuroendocrine systems. Furthermore, larger sample sizes, different drug concentrations, and combinations, and other diseases should be the focus of additional research.
Di Fede, G. (2020). A Neuroendocrine Therapeutic Approach with the Pineal Hormone Melatonin, Cannabidiol and Oxytocin (MCO regimen) in the Treatment of the Autism Spectrum disorders. Journal of Immunology and Allergy. https://doi.org/10.37191/mapsci-2582-6549-1(2)-007
Dos Santos, R. G., de Lima Osório, F., Martin-Santos, R., Zuardi, A. W., Hallak, J. E. C., & Crippa, J. A. S. (2019, October 1). Modulation of the Endocannabinoid and Oxytocinergic Systems as a Potential Treatment Approach for Social Anxiety Disorder. CNS Drugs. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-019-00669-5
Lissoni, P., Porro, G., Rovelli, F., Messina, G., Cusmai, R., Caddeo, A., … Di Fede, G. (2019). A Preliminary Study On The Anticancer Properties Of Oxytocin: A Neuroendocrine Regimen With Oxytocin, Antitumor Pineal Indoles, And Cannabidiol In Untreatable Advanced Cancer Patients Progressing On Pineal Indoles And Cannabidiol Alone. Oncogen, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.35702/onc.10018
