Cancer patients could benefit from a world-first clinical trial testing the effects of cannabis to treat their pain.
The project will be led by a research team from the University of Queensland and the Mater Research Institute, based in Brisbane.
If successful it would mean hundreds of people in the state suffering with terminal cancer may start receiving medicinal cannabis to relieve their symptoms.
Hundreds of cancer patients could benefit from the trial in Queensland testing the effects of cannabis for symptom relief (stock image)
Researchers say the results of the study would provide urgent data and information to advise the future of prescriptions, research and health policy.
The trial is being funded through the Medical Research Future Fund, a federal government grant supporting clinical research for rare diseases and medical needs.
It will be carried out in several hospitals throughout south east Queensland.
Professor Janet Hardy, who is leading the research team, said: ‘We will conduct the first clinical trial worldwide to rigorously evaluate the efficacy, safety and acceptability of medicinal cannabinoids for symptom relief in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care.’
The trial will be conducted using random, blind and placebo controls which Professor Hardy says will ‘define the role of medicinal cannabis’ for patients.
‘There has certainly been an overwhelming interest in the use of medicinal cannabinoids, particularly for the relief of symptom distress in palliative care patients,’ she added.
‘A large number of patients who come to us in clinic ask for cannabis, due to the public perception around its beneficial effects.’
Cannabis has been used for treatment in other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
It was legalised for use in medicine by the government in 2016, despite opposition from the Green’s who still wanted the drug to be classed as an illegal substance.
Researchers say the results of the study would provide urgent data and information to advise the future of prescriptions, research and health policy (stock image)
Professor Hardy said the trial to show whether it was effective or not was needed to allow patients and doctors to understand which product is best suited for which needs.
She said: ‘In palliative care there has been a lot of uncertainty around which patients would benefit most and which particular cannabinoid is most suited to the needs of people with advanced cancer. These are the questions we hope to answer through this trial.
‘Cannabis, the plant, contains more than 100 different cannabinoids but we don’t know which one or combination of these, if any, will be best for the symptomatic relief of this patient group.’
‘Patients participating in the trial will be asked to score a range of symptoms including pain, nausea, appetite, bowel function, anxiety and depression.
‘The primary outcome we are assessing is their ‘total symptom score’ representing their symptom burden. We’re looking at the holistic care of patients with advanced cancer.’