Interferon (IFN) regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and IRF-2 play opposing roles in the regulation of many IFN-gamma-inducible genes. To investigate the signal transduction pathway in response to IFN-gamma in light of differences in growth effects, we selected four human breast carcinoma cell lines based on a spectrum of growth inhibition by IFN-gamma. MDA468 growth was markedly inhibited by IFN-gamma, and it showed substantial induction of IRF-1 mRNA but little IRF-2 induction.