HER2‑positive ovarian cancer is a form of cancer in which tumor cells have high levels of a protein called HER2‑tyrosine kinase, which drives aggressive tumor growth and poor outcomes. In this preclinical study, researchers evaluated whether cannabinoids—naturally occurring compounds in the Cannabis sativa plant—might function as inhibitors of HER2‑tyrosine kinase, potentially slowing cancer cell growth. Using laboratory models, the scientists tested how specific cannabinoids interacted with the HER2 signaling pathway, which plays a key role in cancer cell proliferation and survival.

The findings indicated that several cannabinoids were able to interfere with HER2‑tyrosine kinase activity, leading to reduced signaling through this cancer‑driven pathway. This effect resulted in decreased proliferation and increased cell death in HER2‑positive ovarian cancer cell lines. Some cannabinoids also showed the ability to alter downstream molecular targets that influence cell survival mechanisms. These results suggest that cannabinoids may have anti‑cancer potential by targeting a pathway that is difficult to inhibit with conventional therapies.

Although this research was conducted in vitro (in laboratory cells) rather than in animals or humans, it highlights an intriguing possibility: cannabinoids could be explored as part of novel strategies to target HER2‑positive ovarian cancer. The authors emphasize that further research, including animal studies and clinical trials, is necessary to determine the safety, effectiveness, and possible therapeutic roles of cannabinoids in cancer treatment.

Source
Cannabinoids as Promising Inhibitors of HER2-Tyrosine Kinase: A Novel Strategy for Targeting HER2-Positive Ovarian Cancer (February 2025). Available through the National Library of Medicine (NIH): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11840771/