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Updated: Feb 25, 2026
An Efficient Method for Adenovirus Production
Published on: June 10, 2021
Human Menstrual Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Potential Cell Carriers for Oncolytic Adenovirus
R Moreno1, L A Rojas1, Felip Vilardell Villellas2
1Virotherapy and Gene Therapy Group, ProCure Program, Translational Research Laboratory, Instituto Catalan de Oncología-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
Antitumor efficacy of systemically administered oncolytic adenoviruses (OAdv) is limited due to diverse factors such as liver sequestration, neutralizing interactions in blood, elimination by the immune system, and physical barriers in tumors. It is therefore of clinical relevance to improve OAdv bioavailability and tumor delivery. Among the variety of tumor-targeting strategies, the use of stem cells and specifically bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) is of particular interest due to their tumor tropism and immunomodulatory properties. Nonetheless, the invasive methods to obtain these cells, the low number of MSCs present in the bone marrow, and their restricted in vitro expansion represent major obstacles for their use in cancer treatments, pointing out the necessity to identify an alternative source of MSCs. Here, we have evaluated the use of menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) as cell carriers for regional delivery of an OAdv in the tumor. Our results indicate that MenSCs can be isolated without invasive methods, they have an increased proliferation rate compared to BM-MSCs, and they can be efficiently infected with different serotype 5-based capsid-modified adenoviruses, leading to viral replication and release. In addition, our in vivo studies confirmed the tumor-homing properties of MenSCs after regional administration.
Insights
Menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) offer a promising alternative to bone marrow-derived stem cells for delivering oncolytic adenoviruses (OAdv) to tumors. These MenSCs show efficient viral loading and tumor-homing capabilities for enhanced cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Virology
Background:
- Systemic delivery of oncolytic adenoviruses (OAdv) for cancer treatment faces challenges including immune clearance and poor tumor penetration.
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit tumor tropism but obtaining bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) is invasive and expansion is limited.
- Alternative, easily accessible MSC sources are needed for effective OAdv delivery and cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) as a cell carrier for regional OAdv delivery.
- To compare MenSCs with BM-MSCs for OAdv delivery applications.
- To assess the potential of MenSCs for improving OAdv bioavailability and tumor targeting.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of MenSCs.
- In vitro infection of MenSCs with OAdv and assessment of viral replication and release.
- In vivo studies to evaluate the tumor-homing capacity of regionally administered MenSCs.
Main Results:
- MenSCs can be isolated non-invasively and exhibit a higher proliferation rate than BM-MSCs.
- MenSCs are efficiently infected with OAdv, supporting viral replication and release.
- Regional administration of MenSCs demonstrated significant tumor-homing properties in vivo.
Conclusions:
- MenSCs represent a viable and advantageous alternative to BM-MSCs for OAdv delivery in cancer therapy.
- Non-invasive isolation and enhanced proliferation make MenSCs suitable for large-scale production.
- MenSCs effectively carry and deliver OAdv to tumors, potentially improving antitumor efficacy.
