# INHIBITION OF HUMAN ONCOGENE EXPRESSION BY INTERFERON

> **NIH NIH R01** · HENRY M. JACKSON FDN FOR THE ADV MIL/MED · 1988 · $91,507

## Abstract

Prolonged alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) or recombinant
IFN-beta treatment of RS485, NIH 3T3 cells transformed by a long
terminal repeat-activated Ha-ras proto-oncogene resulted in
revertants that maintain a non-transformed phenotype long after IFN
treatment had been discontinued.  Cloned persistent revertants
(PRs) produced large amounts of the ras-encoded p21 and were
refractile to transformation by EJras DNA and by transforming
retroviruses which carried the v-Ha-ras, v-Ki-ras, v-abl, or v-fes
oncogene.  Transient treatment either in vitro or in vivo with
cytidine analogs that alter gene expression by inhibiting DNA
methylation resulted in transformation of PR, but not of NIH 3T3
cells.  We wish to study the mechanisms involved in this persistent
reversion.

We hope to demonstrate altered patterns of gene expression in the
persistent revertants by identifying in cDNA libraries cell
messages that are differentially expressed in PRs and RS485s.  The
potential of these cDNAs to affect the phenotype of RS485 or
persistent revertant cells will be evaluated by transfecting these
cells with constructs that will allow the over-expression of either
message or anti-sense message.  Genomic clones of differentially
expressed gene will also be obtained and the flanking regulatory
regions analyzed.

We also wish to investigate the possible roles of co-transforming
oncogenes, endogenous IFN production, and DNA methylation of
regulatory sites in the phenomenon of persistent reversion, and to
study further the resistance of PRs to re-transformation by various
viral and cellular oncogenes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3175179
- **Project number:** 2R01CA037351-04A1
- **Recipient organization:** HENRY M. JACKSON FDN FOR THE ADV MIL/MED
- **SAM.gov UEI:** UYLKBRENAPG5
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT M FRIEDMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $91,507
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-12-01 → 1993-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3175179

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3175179, INHIBITION OF HUMAN ONCOGENE EXPRESSION BY INTERFERON (2R01CA037351-04A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3175179. Licensed CC0.

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