Empowering Cancer Research: Maxine Rava Foundation's Collaboration with Technion and Promising Steps Towards ER-Positive Breast Cancer Therapy
From its inception within Flinders University, the Maxine Rava Foundation has steadily emerged as an independent entity, empowered to shape its research priorities and garner financial backing from the public sphere. This momentum has propelled us to initiate our research agenda mere weeks after obtaining official registration.
Marking a significant milestone, the foundation extended a grant to Technion, the venerable institution renowned as the most significant and oldest university in the Middle East, situated in Haifa, Israel. Specifically, the grant was allocated to propel a groundbreaking Cancer-Cannabis Research Project, under the guidance of the distinguished Prof. David Meiri from the Faculty of Biology at Technion.
Dr. Meiri commands international recognition as a preeminent scientist in the realm of cannabis and cancer research. His team's accomplishments include the isolation of over 140 compounds, many attributed to Dr. Meiri's discoveries, derived from more than 500 strains of Cannabis plants. As part of our aspirations, we aspire to secure funding that will facilitate the establishment of an analogous repository of compounds encompassing species native to Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. The synergy of these comprehensive libraries holds immense promise for advancing cancer and cannabis research endeavours on a global scale.
Equally significant, this endeavour sets the stage for the Foundation's foray into Australia-based research projects addressing various cancer types. Dr. Meiri's ongoing project bears the title “Aligning an Efficacious Cannabis Strain with ER-Positive Breast Cancer and Dissecting Its Mechanism of Action.”
The overarching goal of this endeavour is to identify a potent cannabis metabolite that harmonises with ER-positive breast cancer while comprehending its underlying mode of operation. The ultimate result is to find the best treatments for patients.
Matching an efficacious cannabis chemovar with ER-positive breast cancer, discerning the metabolite(s) responsible for eliciting antitumor effects. Unravelling the intricate molecular mechanisms influenced by the synergy of cannabis and breast cancer drugs. Assessing the amalgamation of the identified metabolite(s) with conventional endocrine therapy drugs, complementing tamoxifen's use. Refining the efficacy and safety of the composite therapeutic approach.
In the contemporary medical landscape, medical cannabis is progressively integrated into the treatment regimens of cancer patients, primarily for its palliative attributes. Regrettably, the selection of strains often hinges on arbitrary choices. The proposed research holds the promise of profound insights into the nuanced interplay between endocannabinoid system modulation and endocrine signalling. A pivotal focus rests on unravelling the underlying mechanisms driving the development and progression of ER-positive breast cancer. Given estrogen signalling's pivotal role across diverse malignancies encompassing breast, ovarian, endometrial, cervical, colon, and liver cancers, the implications of these findings extend to the potential creation of a groundbreaking pharmacotherapy for all ER-dependent cancers.
For breast cancer patients who have undergone tumour excision surgery, systemic therapy such as tamoxifen is a mainstay to forestall recurrence. Unfortunately, the potent side effects associated with tamoxifen and other breast cancer drugs often deter patient adherence. This reality has spurred researchers to explore synergistic combination therapies. The compelling hypothesis in this context posits that cannabis, by virtue of its capacity to modulate the body's endocrine system through interactions with the ECS, can effectively combat ER-positive breast cancer. A complementary facet involves leveraging cannabis plant metabolites in conjunction with existing endocrine drugs, thereby potentially reducing dosages while upholding cytotoxic efficacy and mitigating unwanted consequences.
Breaking News: Preliminary findings indicate that Extract CANN14 in synergy with tamoxifen induces cytotoxic effects on ER-positive breast cancer cells. At present, Dr. Meiri's laboratory is delving into the expansive therapeutic potential of naturally occurring cannabinoids and other bioactive constituents sourced from a spectrum of cannabis strains, algae, mushrooms, and even the human body itself.
