Tumor Cells In Mice Destroyed By Drug From Mediterranean Weed

Sounds wonderful!

Now to figure out the other 50%

And it's exciting to hear that the cancer can't mutate itself to reject or avoid the "grenade". Just think...a chemo drug that would never wear out!

Maud,

I think it will not be available for you for a long time.   Phase 1 tests safety on stage IVers.   If it passed the safety requirement it needs to be gone through Phase II, III.   Each takes 2 years at least depending on patient recruitment.  

Let's assume this is THE CURE (100% response rate for a subtype of BC).   History tells us:

1. A lot of trials fail due to poor patient recruitment (researchers run out of money, time or interest).   Not enough patients of this subtype/stage of BC qualifies for this trial, or are inclined to join this trial.

2. Another significant number fail due to safety.   It may be too toxic or needs careful tinkering to be tolerable.

3. Another significant number fail due to poor trial design, somehow the dosage is wrong or they failed to collect some important biomarker information to stratify patient risk or target the wrong subgroup of BC patients.

4. Another significant number fail due to bad luck, ie statistical significance not reached,  maybe a few of their patients are just unlucky. 

The end result is:  the likelihood this 100% response true CURE gets proven through the clinical trial process is small.

Add to that, so far, cancer has prove resistant to almost all the best drugs so far developed.    How long this true CURE will last is anybody's guess.

Neoadjuvant or alternative clinical trials like ispy2 could improve the odds and shorten the time frame.   If the process is improved/sped up, there may be not just one cure, there could be multiple cures.    So back to my Cato bit: support research, support clinical trials, support the stage IVers:  money, samples, patient records, word of mouth.

Hoping for the cure is like hoping to win lottery.    Start working for the cure now.