Disruption of the endocannabinoid system is prominent in lung adenocarcinoma and associated with poor patient survival

Background The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is comprised of cannabinoid receptors, lipid messengers called endocannabinoids, and the enzymes that metabolize them. It modulates numerous processes including the central nervous and immune systems as well as cell signaling pathways important in normal function and diseases such as cancer. Many studies have demonstrated anti-tumour effects of synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids in cancer, emphasizing the potential for ECS modulators as anti-cancer therapies. We believe that ECS deregulation may contribute to the malignant phenotype of lung cancer cells by reducing anti-tumour endocannabinoid levels and consequently increasing levels of arachidonic acid, which can promote tumour growth. We sought to determine whether the ECS is disrupted in clinical lung tumours and whether disruption has prognostic implications.