adenovirus-mediated human interleukin-12

A replication-incompetent adenovirus encoding human pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) (Ad.hIL-12), with potential immunomodulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon intratumoral administration, the adenovirus selectively infects and replicates in tumor cells, which may result in tumor cell lysis. Synergistically, IL-12 expressed by the adenovirus may activate the immune system by promoting the activation of natural killer cells (NKs), inducing secretion of interferon-gamma and inducing cytotoxic T cell responses against tumor cells, which may result in immune-mediated tumor cell death and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation.