Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42055476›Full record

ArticleCancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)2026

Antiproliferative Effects of Cannabinoids and Cisplatin in Cervical Cancer Cells.

S P Mathibela, M T Lebelo, V Steenkamp

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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

3 authors.

S P MathibelaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0001-9696-3407
M T LebeloDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-6377-8261
V SteenkampDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0003-3575-0410

Funding

National Research Foundation NGAP250520314378Research Development Programme, University of Pretoria
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Cisplatin, a standard chemotherapeutic agent, is limited by severe toxicities and chemoresistance. This study aimed to assess the effects of cisplatin in combination with phytocannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on cell proliferation, morphology, cell cycle progression, cell death, and DNA damage.

methodsSynergistic interactions between THC, CBD, and cisplatin were assessed in HeLa, SiHa, and MCF-12A cells using the checkerboard assay and SRB assay. Cell morphology, cell cycle progression, apoptosis induction, autophagic activity, and DNA repair gene expression were evaluated using various techniques.

resultsThe THC-CBD-cisplatin combination exhibited the strongest apoptotic response in cancer cells (HeLa 53%, SiHa 58%), while minimally affecting MCF-12A cells (32%). Cannabinoid co-treatment amplified the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of cisplatin in HeLa and SiHa cells. The triple combination induced a G2/M arrest in HeLa cells and sub-G1 accumulation in SiHa cells. Autophagic activity, indicated by LC3B puncta formation, increased in HeLa and SiHa cells following THC and CBD exposure. DNA repair genes XRCC1 and RAD51 were downregulated by the cannabinoid-cisplatin combination.

conclusionThese findings demonstrate that combining THC and CBD with cisplatin results in enhanced and mechanistically diverse anticancer effects, with a higher degree of selectivity for cervical cancer cells compared to non-cancerous MCF-12A cells by inducing apoptosis and autophagy while inhibiting DNA repair capacity. This study highlights the potential of cannabinoid-based combination therapies as a promising approach for cervical cancer treatment.

Indexed as

CannabidiolCannabinoidsCisplatinDronabinolUterine Cervical NeoplasmsAntineoplastic AgentsApoptosisAutophagyCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationDNA DamageDNA RepairDrug SynergismFemaleHeLa CellsHumansAntineoplastic AgentsCannabidiolCannabinoidsCisplatinDronabinolapoptosisautophagycannabinoidscervical cancercisplatincombination therapy

Identifiers

PMID42055476
PMCPMC13128291

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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.