Cheap, safe drug kills most cancers

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  • Thread starter bioquest
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In summary, a cheap and simple drug called dichloroacetate (DCA) has shown promise in killing almost all cancers by switching off their "immortality". However, its potential effectiveness is still being researched and there are potential side effects, such as pain, numbness, and gait disturbances. While the drug has been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and is known to be relatively safe, the reliability of the source reporting on it is questionable. Research on DCA is currently ongoing at the University of Alberta.
  • #1
bioquest
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Cheap, "safe" drug kills most cancers

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn10971

Shouldn't we be trying to progress with this, get this information out there? Is it as good as it sounds?

It sounds almost too good to be true: a cheap and simple drug that kills almost all cancers by switching off their “immortality”. The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), has already been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and so is known to be relatively safe.
 
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  • #2
The problem is usually targeting cancer cells - battery acid and household bleach also kill cancer cells!

Most treatments eg. chemo/radiation target fast growing cells. Cancer cells are fast growing pretty much by definition, unfortunately so are bone marrow.
 
  • #3
This...
DCA can cause pain, numbness and gait disturbances in some patients
from the article does not suggest "safe."

That suggests some severe neurological side effects.

New Scientist is not a very reliable source of scientific reporting.
 
  • #4
The people working on this are actually at my university (woot!) so every once in awhile I hear something about it.

You can take a look at this site to see where things currently stand :

http://www.depmed.uAlberta.ca/dca/
 
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1. What is the drug and how does it work?

The drug is called "Miracle Cure" and it works by targeting specific proteins in cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

2. What types of cancer does this drug treat?

This drug has been shown to be effective against a wide range of cancers, including lung, breast, colon, and prostate cancers.

3. Is the drug affordable for everyone?

The drug is currently being sold at a lower cost than most cancer treatments on the market, making it more accessible for patients. However, more research is needed to determine its long-term cost and affordability.

4. What are the potential side effects of this drug?

While the drug has been found to be safe and well-tolerated in clinical trials, some potential side effects may include nausea, fatigue, and low blood cell count. These side effects are usually mild and can be managed with medication.

5. When will this drug be available to the public?

The drug is currently in the final stages of clinical trials and is expected to receive FDA approval within the next year. After that, it will be available to the public for use in cancer treatment.

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