The CIA is under fire after a decades-old declassified document resurfaced online, sparking claims it hid a potential cancer cure for more than 60 years.
The file, originally written in 1951, was a CIA summary of Soviet research. It compared parasites to cancer cells, noting similarities in metabolism and energy storage.
The report mentioned experiments where antiparasitic drugs slowed both parasite growth and tumor growth in labs. But it did not claim cancer is caused by parasites or that a cure existed.
The document was declassified in 2014 and has been publicly available on the CIA’s website since then. It only gained attention recently after going viral on social media.
Online posts accuse the CIA and pharmaceutical companies of hiding cheap treatments to protect profits. Some users link the findings to modern interest in antiparasitic drugs like ivermectin.
Scientists stress that most cancers come from genetic mutations and environmental factors, not parasites. While some parasites can increase cancer risk, mainstream research does not support the idea that cancer itself is parasitic.
Experts also point out that cancer metabolism has been studied for decades, and the Soviet observations were part of early Cold War science monitoring, not a breakthrough cure.
The CIA has not commented on the renewed controversy. Health officials warn against misinformation and urge people to rely on proven treatments.