The present invention relates to the discoveries that the stabilization of Interleukin 24 (IL-24, also known as mda-7) mRNA through the 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR) occurs due to the low levels of Tristraprolin (TTP) in cancer cells. Furthermore, IL-24 is able to decrease TTP protein levels to promote its mRNA stabilization in cancer cells leading to more production of IL-24 protein. Accordingly, the invention provides for methods for identifying agents using assay methods, which determine the ability of a test agent to increase or decrease expression of TTP in cancer cells. Such agents may be small molecules or maybe fragments variants and/or derivatives of native IL-24. The invention provides for a method for identifying small molecule drugs and compounds capable of acting as surrogates of IL-24 (mda-7/IL-24) by decreasing TTP mRNA or proteins levels intracellularly.
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