6-Iodolactone, key mediator of antitumoral properties of iodine

An iodinated derivative of arachidonic acid, 5-hydroxy-6-iodo-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, delta-lactone (6-IL) has been implicated as a possible intermediate in the autoregulation of the thyroid gland by iodine. In addition to antiproliferative and apoptotic effects observed in thyrocytes, this iodolipid could also exert similar actions in cells derived from extrathyroidal tissues like mammary gland, prostate, colon, or the nervous system. In mammary cancer (solid tumors or tumor cell lines), 6-IL has been detected after molecular iodine (I-2) supplement, and is a potent activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor type gamma (PPAR gamma). These observations led us to propose I-2 supplement as a novel coadjutant therapy which, by inducing differentiation mechanisms, decreases tumor progression and prevents chemoresistance. Some kinds of tumoral cells, in contrast to normal cells, contain high concentrations Of arachidonic acid, making the I-2 supplement a potential magic bullet that enables local, specific production of 6-IL, which then exerts antineoplastic actions with minimal deleterious effects on normal tissues. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.