Definition

A preparation of bone marrow-derived allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infected with the oncolytic, replication-competent adenovirus ICOVIR5, with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon infusion of the oncolytic adenovirus ICOVIR5-infected allogeneic MSCs, these cells target the adenovirus to tumors. The oncolytic virus then selectively transfects and replicates in the tumor cells causing a direct cytotoxic effect and lysis of the tumor cells. In addition, the viral infection and the subsequent release of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) upon lysis may stimulate an immune response against the tumor cells. This may lead to an inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. ICOVIR-5, a virus derived from wild-type human adenovirus serotype 5 (Had5), has been modified to selectively replicate in tumor cells that have a deregulated retinoblastoma/E2F pathway.