“CB₂ agonists not only produce antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, but also have been shown to increase bone density.”

“Recent reports suggest that sustained opiates can produce paradoxical hyperalgesic actions and enhance bone destruction in a murine model of bone cancer. In contrast, CB(2) selective agonists have been shown to reduce bone loss associated with a model of osteoporosis. Here we tested whether a CB(2) agonist administered over a 7day period inhibits bone cancer-induced pain as well as attenuates cancer-induced bone degradation.”

“Based on the antihyperalgesic effects of CB₂ agonists, the lack of potential CNS-induced side effects and their propensity to stimulated bone growth, we addressed whether the sustained selective CB₂ agonists…  has the potential to alleviate bone cancer-induced pain while maintaining bone integrity in a murine model of bone cancer”.

“These findings suggest a novel therapy for cancer-induced bone pain, bone loss and bone fracture while lacking many unwanted side effects seen with current treatments for bone cancer pain.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871326/