Medical cannabis use in breast cancer patients during and after treatment
Official title: Assessing Benefits and Harms of Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoid Use in Breast Cancer Patients During and After Treatments
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11420589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Breast cancer patients who use medical cannabis during or after treatment are being studied to see how it affects their symptoms and overall outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $650,251 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA286810-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult breast cancer patients who are using or considering medical cannabis during or after treatment and who consent to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not willing to share information or who do not plan to use cannabis during their cancer care may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows breast cancer patients to understand which cannabis products they use, how often, and in what dosages, while they are in treatment and after. Researchers will collect medical and patient-reported data from 600 participants, comparing 300 cannabis users with 300 non-users. The study explores whether cannabis interacts with cancer treatments and influences inflammation and symptom burden, aiming to identify potential benefits and harms. The focus is on real-world use and its relationship to treatment effects and quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could clarify when cannabis use may help alleviate symptoms without compromising treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous surveys document high use of medical cannabis among breast cancer patients, but robust prospective data are limited and mixed in outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Jennifer J — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Hu, Jennifer J
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Medical cannabis use and its effects in people with breast cancer during and after treatment
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Exploring the effects of medical cannabis on breast cancer patients during and after treatment
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.