Dichloroacetate (DCA) has hit the headlines with a splash recently being held as a cheap cure for cancer. The recent article in Cancer Cell is very intriguing in that it presents DCA as promoting apoptosis and inhibiting growth selectively in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. The article also presents data showing it is not toxic to the liver.

However, there are a few perspectives of this compound that should be included in the public’s mind.