Environment and Lung Cancer (ECP)

Cannabis is the most consumed drug in the world and the French are the main consumers in Europe. The most recognized effects of cannabis on human health are of a neuro-psychic nature. The medical literature on the effects of cannabis on the lung in general, and on lung carcinogenesis in particular, is most often reassuring (Tashkin, Chest 2018; Zhang, Int J Cancer 2015; Ghasemiesfe JAMA Netw. Open. 2019), despite the fact that the concentration of carcinogens in cannabis smoke is higher than that contained in tobacco smoke (Moir, Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2008), and that cannabis smoking has been implicated in the occurrence of ENT cancers. Rather, research focuses on the therapeutic effects of cannabis, especially analgesics, and even on its possible anti-tumor virtues (Abrams, Jama Oncol. 2020). These reassuring data should, however, be viewed with a great deal of caution. On the one hand, the illegal nature of cannabis in most countries and its frequent association with tobacco consumption make studies on the subject difficult and often biased. On the other hand, the daily practice of oncologists, who observe numerous cases of advanced and rapidly progressive lung cancer occurring in young patients who are heavy users of cannabis, raises suspicion of an unrecognized role of cannabis in lung carcinogenesis.

In a preliminary multicenter study on French patients under 50 years of age operated for primary lung cancer (Betser, ERJ 2021), we demonstrated that cannabis consumption was extremely frequent, concerning 43% of patients, but mentioned in patients' medical records only in 4 out of 10 cases, while the smoking status was always noted.

In addition, by comparing people who smoke cannabis (always here associated with tobacco) to patients who only smoke tobacco or to non-smokers, we identified a different profile of lung cancers, with more poorly differentiated tumors, presenting at a more advanced stage (more T3-T4 versus T1-T2) requiring more complex surgery, and mostly located in the upper lobes of the lung.

Similar research work is currently underway at Gustave Roussy (Dr Pradere-Dr Planchard, Villejuif, France) on patients with metastatic lung cancer, with a focus on overall survival and molecular profile.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Cannabis Use
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: blood and hair sampling

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 150
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pauline PRADERE, MD; Phone Number: 01.40.94.22.79; Email: p.pradere@ghpsj.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Le Plessis-Robinson, France, 92350
    • Recruiting
    • Centre chirurgical Marie Lannelongue
    • Contact: Pauline Pradère
  • Paris, France, 75014
    • Completed
    • Hôpital Paris Saint Joseph
  • Villejuif, France
    • Completed
    • Institut Gustave Roussy

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 59 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any patient from 18 y.o to 59 y.o treated in one of the three above-mentioned hospitals for primary lung cancer, whatever its stage, and agreeing to participate in this research.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient denied participation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: cannabis smokers	Other: blood and hair sampling; 3.5 ml blood sample Hair sample
Experimental: Tobacco smokers	Other: blood and hair sampling; 3.5 ml blood sample Hair sample
Experimental: Non-smoking patients	Other: blood and hair sampling; 3.5 ml blood sample Hair sample

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
percentage of patients who are active or not active cannabis smokers (at least 10 joints per for at least one year).	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre Chirurgical Marie Lannelongue

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 2, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 2, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): November 15, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cannabis, Lung Cancer
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Neoplasms; Thoracic Neoplasms; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Lung Neoplasms; Marijuana Abuse; Investigative Techniques; Specimen Handling; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Punctures; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Blood Specimen Collection
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021-A02062-39

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No