PH5CH8 cells efficiently support growth of VSV-wt and the IFN-inducing mutant, VSV-M51R, but in contrast to HCC cells, they are also able to mount an IFN response upon viral infection with VSV-M51R or stimulation with synthetic dsRNA (Poly I:C), as demonstrated by a reporter gene assay using the IFN-β promoter. Here, IFNA1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.