Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41546069›Full record

ArticleJournal of cannabis research2026

The differential effects of CBD and CBDA on viability and mRNA expression in colorectal cancer cells.

Christine Heinzle, Kathrin Geiger, Reinhard Ertl, Eva Maria Brandtner, Andreas Leiherer, Stella Gaenger, David Schmidmayr, Heinz Drexel, Axel Muendlein

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cannabis research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Christine HeinzleVorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria. christine.heinzle@vivit.at.
Kathrin GeigerVorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria.
Reinhard ErtlVetCore Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Eva Maria BrandtnerVorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria.
Andreas LeihererVorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria.
Stella GaengerVorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria.
David SchmidmayrBetter Plants R&D GmbH, Bludenz, Austria.
Heinz DrexelVorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria.
Axel MuendleinVorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Feldkirch, Austria.

Funding

Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft 52118651
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCannabinoids have attracted significant attention for their potential therapeutic application in cancer research. However, recent studies have reported antitumor activity of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)-the acidic precursor of CBD-in breast cancer cells, involving modulation of cyclooxygenase signaling. To our knowledge, no investigations have examined the effects of CBDA on RNA expression and signaling pathways in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of CBD, CBDA, and a CBDA-rich Cannabis sativa (C.s). extract on the growth and gene expression in CRC cell lines.

methodsWe assessed cell viability and clonogenic growth of the CRC cell lines HCT116 and DLD1 following treatment with pure CBD, pure CBDA, a CBDA-rich C.s. extract (CBDA/CBD ratio 20:1), and a corresponding mixture of pure CBDA/CBD. RNA sequencing was performed to analyze differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the cell signaling pathways affected by these treatments.

resultsOf all tested compounds, CBD exhibited the strongest cytotoxic effect in both cell lines, whereas CBDA demonstrated minimal toxicity, particularly in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, we observed a greater inhibitory effect of the CBDA-rich C.s. extract on HCT116 cell growth compared to the CBDA/CBD mixture. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that CBD had the most pronounced impact on gene expression, while CBDA had the least. Notably, treatment with the C.s. extract resulted in a higher number of DEGs than the CBDA/CBD mixture in HCT116. Gene expression analysis indicated an upregulation of the Wnt and Hippo signaling pathways following CBD treatment. Additionally, CBDA, CBD/CBDA (1:20), and the C.s. extract primarily induced metabolic processes in DLD1 cells, suggesting a distinct metabolic response.

conclusionOur findings showed that CBD exerts stronger effects on cell survival and gene expression in CRC cells than CBDA, which showed only limited activity. Moreover, the CBDA-rich C.s. extract exhibited greater efficacy than the CBDA/CBD mixture. More research is needed to further elucidate the impact of cannabinoids on CRC cell biology and signaling pathways.

Indexed as

Cannabis sativaCBDCBDAColorectal cancerEntourage effectPlant extractRNA sequencing

Identifiers

PMID41546069
PMCPMC12895959

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.