Deletions of the IFN gene cluster have also been described in lung cancer (Olopade et al, 1993), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Diaz et al, 1990), acute lymphocytic leukaemia (Einhorn et al, 1990), glioma cell lines (James et al, 1993) and head and neck cancer (Lydiatt et al, 1998). Here, IFNA1 is linked to head and neck cancer.