IFNB1 and neoplasm: These findings are somewhat unexpected, since IFNβ and STAT1 have been regarded as anti-tumour factors that inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis, predominantly through the transcriptional modulation of key proteins such as IRF1, FAS, FASL, TRAIL, p21waf1, and caspases 2, 3, and 7 (Borden et al, 2007; Kim and Lee, 2007).