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AzTrials

Breast CancerPhase 1NCT05969314

To Check Safety of Ayurvedic Oral Cannabis in Breast and Head and Neck Cancer

A Phase 1 study testing Cannabis capsules in people with Breast Cancer and Oral Cancer, run by Tata Memorial Hospital at 2 sites in India.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

Phase 1 study to assess the pharmacokinetic availability and safety and tolerability profile of one such ayurvedic preparation which contains 5 mg THC:CBD 1:1 preparation. Other than the PK profile, we will also be studying its effect on gene expression profiling of the breast and head neck oral cavity squamous cell… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Breast Cancer, Oral Cancer
What is being tested?
Cannabis capsules
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
12 participants
Where
2 sitesIndia
Study dates
8 Jun 2022to 30 Dec 2026
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Histopathologically proven patients of breast or oral cavity SCC
  • Age > 18 and < 65
  • Operable cancers planned to undergo upfront curative surgery
  • Patient fit for surgery (ASA Grade I / II)
  • Patient Voluntarily willing to give consent for study

Who cannot join

  • Planned for any other pre or peri-operative intervention such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy or targeted therapy or radiation
  • Presence of medical disease such as pulmonary, renal, liver, gastro-intestinal disease which may interfere with any study specific procedure (deranged renal parameters > 1.5 times normal range or deranged liver function tests such as > 2.5 times raised liver enzymes)
  • History of substance abuse (including cannabis-related products) or alcohol abuse
  • Personal history of psychiatric disease or Significant family history of psychiatric disease
  • Pregnancy and/or lactation
  • Patients currently (within last 14 days before consenting) on other CNS depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates, benozodiazapines (like diazepam, alprazolam etc)
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Patients on other medications which will likely have a drug interaction with cannabis- such as clozapine, duloxetine, naproxen, cyclobenzaprine, olanzapine, haloperidol, and chlorpromazine, macrolides, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines, cyclosporine, sildenafil (and other PDE5 inhibitors), antihistamines, haloperidol, antiretrovirals
  • Any other illness or abnormal laboratory investigations which the investigator considers as making the patients ineligible for the study
  • Any patient with positive HIV, HBsAg, HCV status

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

India2 sites
  • Tata Memorial Center

    Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012

  • Tata Memorial Hospital

    Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012

Other trials in India

About this study

Official title: Phase I Study of Safety and Feasibility of Ayurvedic Oral Cannabis Preparation in the Peri-operative Period in Breast and Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Cancer

Phase 1 study to assess the pharmacokinetic availability and safety and tolerability profile of one such ayurvedic preparation which contains 5 mg THC:CBD 1:1 preparation. Other than the PK profile, we will also be studying its effect on gene expression profiling of the breast and head neck oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma tissue.

Read the detailed description

The ancient Ayurvedic medicine obtained from Cannabis sativa plant has recently been re-explored for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential. Various laboratory and preclinical studies have proven its anti-cancer activity and its effect on all the hallmarks of cancer. Anecdotal clinical evidence has shown regression of tumours with ingestion of such medicinal cannabis. A randomized controlled trial in Glioblastoma Multiforme, a kind of brain tumour, shows improvement in disease free survival when temozolamide was combined with Cannabis spray called Sativex.

However, because of lack of systematic, large volume studies, the evidence is slow to emerge. We have previously seen changes related to NF-kb (inflammation) and AP1 (acute hypoxia/stress) pathway genes within the tumour tissue as assessed by transcriptomic analysis (Yet unpublished data). There is laboratory evidence to suggest that the changes induced in the AP1 pathway during surgery can be ameliorated by cannabis treatment. We intend to explore this anticancer potential of C sativa herbal preparation in the pre-operative setting in breast and head and neck cancer patients. Hence, we are proposing a phase 1 study to assess the pharmacokinetic availability and safety and tolerability profile of one such ayurvedic preparation which contains 5 mg THC:CBD 1:1 preparation. Other than the PK profile, we will also be studying its effect on gene expression profiling of the breast and head neck oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma tissue.

Being tested
Cannabis capsules
Medical subject headings
Breast Neoplasms, Mouth Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Cannabis capsulesDrug

    Cannabis capsules containing 5 mg of THC and CBD each or 2.5 mg of THC and CBD each.

Study groups in NCT05969314
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
CannabisExperimentalCannabis capsules containing 5 mg of THC and CBD each or 2.5 mg of THC and CBD each.
Receives: Drug: Cannabis capsules

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. To establish safe dose of oral cannabis preparation

    Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events with respect to cardiovascular, central nervous system and psychotropic of cannabis as assessed by CTCAE v4.0

    Measured: From day 1 of IP dosing till 28 days .

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Pharmacokinetic profiling

    Blood samples collected during the administration of the IP for 5 days and up to 72 hours after surgery.

    Measured: 1.Pre operative day 1 to 5 - one each day before cannabinoid dosing, after dosing 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hour and 8 hour. 2. On day of surgery - Before and after the surgery 3. Post operative day 1 , day 2, day 3 and day 14

  2. Biomarker analysis- Transcitpomics

    Tumor and normal tissue samples.

    Measured: A baseline pre-cannabis tumor tissue sample will be collected before starting IP(day 0). Further blood and tumor as well as adjacent normal tissue samples will be collected during surgery (day6).

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Aug 2023
  2. Study start8 Jun 2022
  3. Primary completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). First 3 patients will receive the study preparation once a day at 9 am (+/- 60 min) (i.e 5 mg of CBD and 5 mg of THC in a 400 mg capsule). Subsequent cohorts will be administered doses of 10 (10 mg of THC and CBD each), 20 (20+20) and 30 (30+30) mg in a classical 3+3 dose escalation study. Briefly, 3 patients will be enrolled at dose level. Dose escalation to the next dose level will continue as long no DLT is observed in 3 patients (the incidence of DLT is ≤ 1/6) In any cohort, if 1/3 patients develop DLT, then 3 more patients will be added at that dose. The dose level at which more than 1/6 patients develop DLT will be considered the MTD and no further escalation will be done beyond the MTD. One dose level below the MTD will be considered for future trials. If MTD is not achieved, the highest dose (30+30) will be considered for future trials. If toxicity is seen at 30 mg, then de-escalation to 25 mg may be considered.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
12 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05969314
Sponsor's protocol ID
TMH Project No. 3386
Other IDs
CTRI/2020/06/020649
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
31 May 2022
Last updated
2 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Zuardi AW. History of cannabis as a medicine: a review. Braz J Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;28(2):153-7. doi: 10.1590/s1516-44462006000200015. Epub 2006 Jun 26.

    PubMed 16810401
  • ElSohly MA, Radwan MM, Gul W, Chandra S, Galal A. Phytochemistry of Cannabis sativa L. Prog Chem Org Nat Prod. 2017;103:1-36. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-45541-9_1.

    PubMed 28120229
  • Ben Amar M. Cannabinoids in medicine: A review of their therapeutic potential. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Apr 21;105(1-2):1-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.02.001. Epub 2006 Mar 15.

    PubMed 16540272
  • Whiting PF, Wolff RF, Deshpande S, Di Nisio M, Duffy S, Hernandez AV, Keurentjes JC, Lang S, Misso K, Ryder S, Schmidlkofer S, Westwood M, Kleijnen J. Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015 Jun 23-30;313(24):2456-73. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.6358.

    PubMed 26103030
  • Bar-Sela G, Vorobeichik M, Drawsheh S, Omer A, Goldberg V, Muller E. The medical necessity for medicinal cannabis: prospective, observational study evaluating the treatment in cancer patients on supportive or palliative care. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:510392. doi: 10.1155/2013/510392. Epub 2013 Jul 16.

    PubMed 23956774
  • Waissengrin B, Urban D, Leshem Y, Garty M, Wolf I. Patterns of use of medical cannabis among Israeli cancer patients: a single institution experience. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2015 Feb;49(2):223-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.05.018. Epub 2014 Jun 14.

    PubMed 24937161
  • Vara D, Salazar M, Olea-Herrero N, Guzman M, Velasco G, Diaz-Laviada I. Anti-tumoral action of cannabinoids on hepatocellular carcinoma: role of AMPK-dependent activation of autophagy. Cell Death Differ. 2011 Jul;18(7):1099-111. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2011.32. Epub 2011 Apr 8.

    PubMed 21475304
  • Caffarel MM, Sarrio D, Palacios J, Guzman M, Sanchez C. Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits cell cycle progression in human breast cancer cells through Cdc2 regulation. Cancer Res. 2006 Jul 1;66(13):6615-21. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-4566.

    PubMed 16818634
  • Caffarel MM, Moreno-Bueno G, Cerutti C, Palacios J, Guzman M, Mechta-Grigoriou F, Sanchez C. JunD is involved in the antiproliferative effect of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol on human breast cancer cells. Oncogene. 2008 Aug 28;27(37):5033-44. doi: 10.1038/onc.2008.145. Epub 2008 May 5.

    PubMed 18454173
  • Salazar M, Carracedo A, Salanueva IJ, Hernandez-Tiedra S, Lorente M, Egia A, Vazquez P, Blazquez C, Torres S, Garcia S, Nowak J, Fimia GM, Piacentini M, Cecconi F, Pandolfi PP, Gonzalez-Feria L, Iovanna JL, Guzman M, Boya P, Velasco G. Cannabinoid action induces autophagy-mediated cell death through stimulation of ER stress in human glioma cells. J Clin Invest. 2009 May;119(5):1359-72. doi: 10.1172/jci37948.

    PubMed 19425170
  • Lopes CF, de Angelis BB, Prudente HM, de Souza BV, Cardoso SV, de Azambuja Ribeiro RI. Concomitant consumption of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco in oral squamous cell carcinoma development and progression: recent advances and challenges. Arch Oral Biol. 2012 Aug;57(8):1026-33. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2012.05.006. Epub 2012 Jun 22.

    PubMed 22727410
  • Cozzolino R, Cali G, Bifulco M, Laccetti P. A metabolically stable analogue of anandamide, Met-F-AEA, inhibits human thyroid carcinoma cell lines by activation of apoptosis. Invest New Drugs. 2010 Apr;28(2):115-23. doi: 10.1007/s10637-009-9221-0. Epub 2009 Feb 3.

    PubMed 19189054
  • Badwe R, Hawaldar R, Parmar V, Nadkarni M, Shet T, Desai S, Gupta S, Jalali R, Vanmali V, Dikshit R, Mittra I. Single-injection depot progesterone before surgery and survival in women with operable breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. 2011 Jul 20;29(21):2845-51. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.33.0738. Epub 2011 Jun 13.

    PubMed 21670457
  • Chakravarti B, Ravi J, Ganju RK. Cannabinoids as therapeutic agents in cancer: current status and future implications. Oncotarget. 2014 Aug 15;5(15):5852-72. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2233.

    PubMed 25115386
  • Nagarkatti P, Pandey R, Rieder SA, Hegde VL, Nagarkatti M. Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs. Future Med Chem. 2009 Oct;1(7):1333-49. doi: 10.4155/fmc.09.93.

    PubMed 20191092

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Cannabis capsules in people with Breast Cancer and Oral Cancer, run by Tata Memorial Hospital at 2 sites in India.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in India. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

To establish safe dose of oral cannabis preparation (time frame: From day 1 of IP dosing till 28 days .). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05969314, which also lists 27 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Oct 2026.

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