Definition

An oncolytic, replication-competent strain of the avian paramyxovirus Newcastle disease virus (NDV) that has been engineered to encode human pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12), with potential antineoplastic and immunostimulating activities. Upon administration, recombinant NDV-encoding IL-12 V938 specifically infects and replicates in cancer cells. This may result in a direct cytotoxic effect involving the lysis of tumor cells via apoptotic mechanisms and may eventually lead to an inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. The production and secretion of IL-12 may potentiate and strengthen the anti-tumor immune response and activates the immune system by promoting the activation of natural killer cells (NK cells), inducing secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-g) and promoting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses against tumor cells.