As IGFBP7 has been shown to suppress tumour activity through induction of apoptosis (Landberg et al, 2001; Mutaguchi et al, 2003; Sato et al, 2007; Wajapeyee et al, 2008), we evaluated the extent of apoptosis induced at 24 h after treatment of PLC-P/shRNA with 1000 IU ml−1 IFN-α. Here, IFNA1 is linked to neoplasm.