What does science say about Iodine (Lugol) and cancer (all types)?
- We don’t say yes or no. We show what has been studied.
- Working in a lab or in animals does not mean it works in people.
- Don’t stop or change your treatment without talking to your doctor.
What has been studied
- Lab studies (cells)Tests on cells in a dish.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed105studies
- Animal studiesTests in mice, rats or other animals.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed301studies
- Studies in peoplePublished studies with human participants.Source: PubMed · as of 10 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed3354studies
- Registered trials in peopleTrials entered in a public registry, whatever their result.ClinicalTrials.gov: 40 · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at ClinicalTrials.govEU CTIS: 0 · as of 9 Nov 2026 · Open the search at EU CTISBy phase:No phase (19)Phase 2 (7)Phase 1 (6)Phase 3 (4)Phase 2/3 (3)Phase 1/2 (1)By status:Recruiting (17)Completed (12)Not yet recruiting (5)Running, not recruiting (5)Stopped early (1)Countries (12):United States (18)China (5)France (4)Canada (2)Cameroon (1)Denmark (1)United Kingdom (1)Netherlands (1)Poland (1)Puerto Rico (1)Taiwan (1)Tanzania (1)With a linked publication (results): 1 of 40The registries do not tell us here whether results were posted; a linked publication is shown instead.40trials
- Approved treatmentApproved by a medicines regulator for this disease.No
Cancer here means all 33 cancer types we cover.
Examples of what we found
The trials
Phase 1/2
Empirical Radioactive Iodine Therapy in DTC
Not yet recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT07453225Phase 2
Comparison of I-124 PET/CT for the Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06961084No phase
Iodine Status and Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Not yet recruiting
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06626581No phase
Iodine Uptake After a Low Iodine Diet
Recruiting · Netherlands
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05599139No phase
Novel Strategy for Early Detection of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Recruiting · Tanzania
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT05028725Phase 2
131I-Omburtamab, in Recurrent Medulloblastoma and Ependymoma
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04743661Phase 1
Combination Radiotherapy and Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Treatment Planning for Thyroid Cancer
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04892303No phase
A Trial Evaluating Toxicity of SBRT and LDRB in Localized Prostate Cancer.
Recruiting · Canada
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06052683Phase 1
Lesion Dosimetry With Iodine-124 in Metastatic Thyroid Carcinoma
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03647358Phase 3
Testing the Addition of 131I-MIBG or Lorlatinib to Intensive Therapy in People With High-Risk Neuroblastoma (NBL)
Recruiting · Canada, Puerto Rico, United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03126916Phase 2
Trametinib in Increasing Tumoral Iodine Incorporation in Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Thyroid Cancer
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT02152995Phase 2/3
IoN- Is Ablative Radio-iodine Necessary for Low Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients
Running, not recruiting · United Kingdom
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT01398085No phase
Iodine Nutrition Status and Clinical Characteristics of Thyroid Cancer
Recruiting · China
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06623500Phase 1
MIBG With Dinutuximab +/- Vorinostat
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03332667No phase
MIBG for Refractory Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT01850888Phase 2
Clinical Trial of Consolidation Treatment With Iodine I 131 Tositumomab for Multiple Myeloma
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00135200Phase 1
Lesion Dosimetry With 124-Iodine in Metastatic Thyroid Carcinoma
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00673010No phase
Safety Study of Radio-labeled huA33 Antibody in Colorectal Cancer
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT00199862
Thinking of paying for it? Read this first
- Ask for published results. Stories, thank-you letters and "patients report" are not results. Ask where the results were published.
- Know what you pay for. Ask in writing: what exactly is included, who gets the money, and what happens if you stop.
- Ask your own doctor first. Some products interfere with chemotherapy, radiation or other medicines. Your treating doctor can check this.
- Do not stop standard treatment for it. Do not stop or delay your treatment without talking to your care team.
Not medical advice. Talk to the care team before changing treatment.