Modifications of apoptin

A vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding Apoptin or functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof, which Apoptin can be phosphorylated, said vector further comprising:

• a nucleic acid molecule encoding a kinase capable of phosphorylating said Apoptin or functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof.

A method for detecting the presence of cancer cells or cells that are cancer prone in a sample of cells, said method comprising:

• providing a cell lysate of cells from said sample of cells with Apoptin or a functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof which Apoptin or a functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof can be phosphorylated, and
• determining phosphorylation state of said Apoptin or a functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof.

A method for identifying a putative cancer-inducing agent, said method comprising:

• submitting a sample of cells to said putative cancer-inducing agent, and
• detecting the presence of cancer cells or cells that are cancer prone in a sample of cells by providing a cell lysate of cells from said sample of cells with Apoptin or a functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof which Apoptin or a functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof can be phosphorylated, and determining the phosphorylation state of said Apoptin or a functional equivalent and/or functional fragment thereof.