Israel- An innovation strategy in Israel: Interferon treatment for mutant p53

This project is conducted by the Technology Transformation Company, Weizmann Institute of Sciences. Varda Rotter, the pioneer of this technology, gives a simple and effective method of combating cancers that exhibit p53 mutations. The identification of mutant p53 is done by administering low doses of type I interferon (IFN). This innovative low dosing treatment mitigates the risk of suffering serious side effects. The invention is based on the discovery that IFNb elicits interferon beta that reduces mutant p53 mRNA level and thereby enables wild-type p53 to suppress tumors. This technique further provides a means of distinguishing patients who are eligible for such treatment based on the p53 mutation status of the tumor.