[malfist]

Temper expectations, in vitro tests are very different than in vivo tests.

Arsenic also kills 100% of tumors in vitro.

In vitro doesn't answers the question of "can this drug be taken safely" nor "can this drug be delivered to the cancer cells"

[wk_end]

I agree that we should still temper expectations (always, forever), but you seem to have missed the other half of the headline: it also seems to work in animal models with no discernible side-effects. Can't say that for arsenic.

[emn13]

Sure, and most miracle drugs don't pan out. Yet there is some reason to at least hope this is a little better than arsenic - it didn't kill the mice nor dogs, and there are various plausible sounding claims about toxicity made (to a non-expert, I just googled the various methods and showed the paper to cancer-researching friend that didn't immediately cry foul).

I mean, the track record of such drugs still suggests it'll likely not live up to the hype of the title here, but that's the point of further research, which does appear to be happening. It's quite likely there's some unforeseen limitation, but hey, we can always hope.

[SketchySeaBeast]

Obligatory xkcd https://xkcd.com/1217/

[amluto]

I admit I’ve never been convinced that a handgun would be especially effective. I would certainly not expect a bullet to make a dish full of airborne pathogenic bacteria or viruses safe.

[mrguyorama]

Well the comic is about cancer cells....