Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Adults with Cancer

Publication Date: March 12, 2024
Last Updated: March 14, 2024

Treatment

Clinical Communication and Education

Recommendation 1.1

Health systems and clinicians, in partnership, should provide adults with cancer unbiased, evidence-based cannabis and/or cannabinoid educational resources to facilitate clinical communication, informed decision-making, and systematized approaches to care. (GPS, , , )
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Recommendation 1.2

Given the high prevalence of cannabis and/or cannabinoid use among adults with cancer, clinicians should routinely and non-judgmentally inquire about cannabis use (or consideration of use), and either guide care or direct adults with cancer to appropriate resources. (GPS, , , )
Note. Clinicians should remain sensitive to cannabis regulations’ disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities and work to omit cannabis-related and other biases (e.g., racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic) from clinical discussions about cannabis and/or cannabinoids. Table 1 offers suggestions for cannabinoid history-taking.
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Recommendation 1.3

When adults with cancer use cannabis and/or cannabinoids outside of evidence-based indications or clinician recommendations, clinicians should explore goals, educate, and seek to minimize harm. (GPS, , , )
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Cancer Treatment

Recommendation 2.1

Clinicians should recommend against use of cannabis and/or cannabinoids to augment cancer-directed treatment unless in the context of a clinical trial. (EB, , VL, Weak)
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Recommendation 2.2

Clinicians should recommend against use of cannabis and/or cannabinoids in place of cancer-directed treatment. (IC, , VL, Strong)
Note. Cannabis and/or cannabinoids used as cancer-directed treatment may cause significant clinical (e.g., fatigue, confusion, feeling “high”) and financial toxicities without good quality evidence of clinical benefit.
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Cancer Treatment-related Toxicity, Symptoms, and Quality of Life (QOL)

Recommendation 3.1

Adults with cancer who receive moderately or highly emetogenic antineoplastic agents with guideline-concordant antiemetic prophylaxis and experience refractory nausea or vomiting may augment their antiemetic regimen with dronabinol, nabilone, or a quality-controlled oral 1:1 delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC):cannabidiol (CBD) extract.
[for dronabinol and nabilone] (EB, , M, Weak)
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[for 1:1 THC:CBD extract] (EB, , L, Weak)
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Note. Cannabis and/or cannabinoids are one of several pharmacologic options for adults with cancer experiencing refractory nausea and vomiting despite optimal prophylaxis. For such individuals, the 2020 ASCO antiemetics guideline recommends the addition of olanzapine (if not already prophylactically administered); otherwise, the addition of an antiemetic from a different class (e.g., a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, dopamine receptor antagonist, benzodiazepine, or synthetic THC).

Recommendation 3.2

Outside of a clinical trial, clinicians should not recommend that adults with cancer use 300 mg or more of daily, oral CBD to manage symptom burden due to lack of proven efficacy and risk for reversible liver enzyme abnormalities. (EB, , L, Weak)
Note: In adult and pediatric populations without cancer, reversible liver enzyme abnormalities primarily occurred in study participants taking 300 mg or more of daily oral CBD.
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Recommendation 3.3

Evidence remains insufficient to recommend for or against cannabis and/or cannabinoids in managing cancer treatment-related toxicities or symptoms (including cancer pain), aside from clinical settings addressed in Recommendations 3.1 and 3.2 or within the context of a clinical trial (Table 2). (, , , )
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ASCO believes that cancer clinical trials are vital to inform medical decisions and improve cancer care, and that all patients should have the opportunity to participate.

Additional information, which may include data supplements, slide sets, and other clinical tools and resources, is available at www.asco.org/supportive-care-guidelines.

Recommendation Grading

Disclaimer

The information in this patient summary should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Overview

Title

Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Adults with Cancer

Authoring Organization

American Society of Clinical Oncology

Publication Month/Year

March 12, 2024

Last Updated Month/Year

November 14, 2024

Document Type

Guideline

Country of Publication

US

Document Objectives

To guide clinicians, adults with cancer, caregivers, researchers, and oncology institutions on the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids, including synthetic cannabinoids and herbal cannabis derivatives; single, purified cannabinoids; combinations of cannabis ingredients; and full-spectrum cannabis.

Target Patient Population

Adults with cancer who use or are interested in using cannabis and/or cannabinoid products for medical purposes.

Target Provider Population

Clinicians providing care to adults with cancer; the health systems in which they work; adults with cancer and their caregivers; and researchers.

PICO Questions

  1. How should clinicians and adults with cancer communicate about cannabis and/or cannabinoids?

  2. Does use of cannabis and/or cannabinoids by adults improve cancer-directed treatment?

  3. Does use of cannabis and/or cannabinoids by adults with cancer reduce treatment-related toxicities, palliate cancer symptoms, or improve quality of life (QOL)?

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adult, Older adult

Health Care Settings

Ambulatory, Home health, Hospice, Hospital, Long term care, Outpatient

Intended Users

Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D000932 - Antiemetics, D009325 - Nausea, D014839 - Vomiting

Keywords

cancer, CINV, Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, cannabis, cannabinoids, CBD, antiemetic regimen, THC

Source Citation

Braun IM, Bohlke K, Abrams DI, et al. Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Adults with Cancer: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2023 March 13. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.02596

Supplemental Methodology Resources

Data Supplement