February 1, 2026
Cure or just squeak?
Pancreatic cancer researchers' latest breakthrough could help tumors disappear
Spanish lab says tumors vanish — commenters yell “in mice”
TLDR: Spanish scientists report a mouse study where a new approach made pancreatic tumors vanish in rodents. Commenters slammed the hype, repeating “in mice,” warning these drugs are unproven in humans, and demanding Phase 3 trials before any victory laps — cautious hope meets classic internet skepticism.
A headline promising vanishing pancreatic tumors lit up the internet — until the comments lit it on fire. Spanish researchers say a new therapy made tumors disappear in lab mice, targeting a common cancer driver known as KRAS (a gene linked to most pancreatic cancers). It’s a big deal in theory, because this disease is brutally hard to treat and usually found late. But the community’s vibe? Equal parts hope… and hard brakes.
Top-voted reaction: “This is a mouse model.” Translation: early days. One commenter warned that these “protein degraders” — drugs that tag bad proteins for disposal — are so new that none are FDA-approved yet, meaning safety and dosing in people are giant question marks. Another chimed in with the three words that deflate every science headline: “…in mice.” And a third dropped the mic with, “Please don’t get your science reporting from the NYPost,” calling the piece press-release hype and reminding everyone that real proof comes from Phase 3 trials — the large human studies that show if a treatment actually works and is safe in the real world.
Meanwhile, the meme brigade showed up with classics like “Wake me when it’s in humans” and “RIP tumors (in rodents).” A few optimists cheered that any progress against this deadly cancer is worth celebrating, even if it’s Step 1 of many. But the loudest chorus today: exciting lab result, yes — cure headline, not so fast.
Key Points
- •Spanish researchers report a new therapy protocol for pancreatic cancer potentially capable of making tumors disappear, per the article’s framing.
- •Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late due to nonspecific symptoms like back pain, indigestion, nausea, fatigue, and bloating.
- •Over 60% of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed at Stage 4, according to a cited source.
- •Tumor biology makes pancreatic cancer resistant to traditional chemotherapy.
- •Current drugs target a common genetic mutation in about 90% of patients, but tumors often develop resistance within months.