Urogenital Malignancy and Cannabis Use: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Background Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide. An increasing number of jurisdictions
are legalising cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use. The changing cannabis market has resulted in both
an increase in the number of people consuming these compounds, and an increase in the frequency and quantity
of cannabis being used. Endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids act on receptors across the entire body including
the genitourinary system; however, there is a paucity of understanding of how cannabinoids affect genitourinary
malignancy.
Objective To present a narrative review of the available literature detailing the relationship between cannabis and
the incidence, diagnosis, and management of genitourinary malignancy.
Methods A comprehensive search was undertaken using the Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Cochrane
Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) up to July 2021. Studies included case reports, case series, casecontrol
studies, and in vitro studies.
Results The search identified 40 studies in total: 8 described the relationship between cannabis and testicular
carcinoma, 20 related to prostate cancer, 5 to bladder cancer, 5 to renal cancer, 1 to penile cancer, and 1 study
examined testicular carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer.
Conclusions Cannabis use has been linked to an increased risk of developing testicular tumours, whilst the
evidence for bladder cancer is mixed. There is no apparent increase in risk for prostate cancer, penile cancer, or
renal cell carcinoma; however, this evidence was based on a very small number of patients. There remains a lack of
understanding of the relationship between cannabis and genitourinary malignancy. With an expected increase in
cannabis use, monitoring for testicular tumour plus efforts to further understand its effects upon the genitourinary
tract will aid diagnosis and management.
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