IFNA1 and cancer: In fact, it has been reported that direct IFN-α gene transfer into tumours suppressed growth of various cancers such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, renal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and leukaemia (Zhang et al, 1996; Coleman et al, 1998; Hottiger et al, 1999; Iqbal Ahmed et al, 2001).