In particular, increasing the secretion of the colony stimulating factors (CSFs) granulocyte-macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF) or granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF) by colon adenocarcinoma, melanoma, lung or renal carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, B-cell lymphoma or acute myeloid leukemic cells prevents the formation of tumours by these cells and results in the elimination of pre-established cancer in mice (Colombo et al, 1991; Dranoff et al, 1993; Armstrong et al, 1996; Levitsky et al, 1996; Dunussi-Joannopoulos et al, 1998). The gene discussed is CSF2; the disease is cancer.