An iodine treatments effect on cell proliferation rates of breast cancer cell lines; in vitro study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Iodine can reduce breast tumor progression by mediates an antiproliferative effect. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effect of iodine (I2), Lugol (I3K), and the combination of both on cell proliferation of three different types of breast cancer cell lines. METHODS: The samples were MCF7, SKBR3, and MDA-MB 213 cell lines. Cell proliferation rate was measured using colorimetric and clonogenic assays. RESULTS: The cell proliferation rate of MDA-MB 231 cells was reduced significantly by treatment I2, I3 K, and combination of both with p = 0.046, p = 0.00, and p = 0.00, respectively. In MCF7 cells, I2 reduced the cell proliferation of 54–94% and I3 K reduced the proliferation of 74–94%. The effectiveness of I3 K treatments in slowing cell proliferation rate was dose-dependent. In SKBR3 cells, I2 reduced proliferation cell up to 85% and I3 K 4%-94% depending on the dose. Clonogenic assay results showed a discontinue of the cell proliferation by all doses of I2 and I3 K (10 µM and 20 µM). CONCLUSION: Breast cancer cell lines, representing subtypes of luminal A, HER2+, and triple-negative, show an excellent response to iodine treatments and I3 K response shows in a dose-dependent manner. Further studies are needed to investigate the effective in vivo doses.