What does science say about Iodine (Lugol) and Childhood cancers?
- 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 11 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed5studies
- Animal studiesTests in mice, rats or other animals.Source: PubMed · as of 11 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed17studies
- Studies in peoplePublished studies with human participants.Source: PubMed · as of 11 Nov 2026 · Open the search at PubMed551studies
- Registered trials in peopleTrials entered in a public registry, whatever their result.ClinicalTrials.gov: 11 · as of 11 Nov 2026 · Open the search at ClinicalTrials.govEU CTIS: 0 · as of 11 Nov 2026 · Open the search at EU CTISBy phase:Phase 2 (3)No phase (3)Phase 1 (2)Phase 2/3 (2)Phase 3 (1)By status:Completed (5)Recruiting (3)Running, not recruiting (2)Not yet recruiting (1)Countries (6):United States (6)Canada (1)China (1)France (1)United Kingdom (1)Puerto Rico (1)With a linked publication (results): 1 of 11The registries do not tell us here whether results were posted; a linked publication is shown instead.11trials
- Approved treatmentApproved by a medicines regulator for this disease.No
Examples of what we found
The trials
Phase 2
Comparison of I-124 PET/CT for the Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer
Recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06961084Phase 2
131I-Omburtamab, in Recurrent Medulloblastoma and Ependymoma
Running, not recruiting · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT04743661Phase 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 2/3
IoN- Is Ablative Radio-iodine Necessary for Low Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients
Running, not recruiting · United Kingdom
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT01398085Phase 1
MIBG With Dinutuximab +/- Vorinostat
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03332667No phase
MIBG for Refractory Neuroblastoma and Pheochromocytoma
Completed · United States
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT01850888
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.
Other treatments people ask about
- Cannabis and cannabinoids (CBD, THC)Step: Large trials
- Curcumin (turmeric)Step: Large trials
- Fasting and fasting-mimicking dietStep: Large trials
- High-dose vitamin CStep: Large trials
- HyperthermiaStep: Large trials
- MelatoninStep: Large trials
- MetforminStep: Large trials
- Mistletoe extractStep: Large trials
- StatinsStep: Large trials
- Vitamin DStep: Large trials
- Amygdalin (laetrile, "vitamin B17")Step: First trials in people
- Ketogenic dietStep: First trials in people
- MebendazoleStep: First trials in people
- IvermectinStep: Reports in people
- Dichloroacetate (DCA)Step: Animal studies only
Not medical advice. Talk to the care team before changing treatment.