Glioma　is　the　most　common　primary　intracranial　malignant　tumor.　Despite　advances　in　surgical　techniques　and　adjuvant　radio-and　chemotherapies,　the　prognosis　for　patients　with　glioma　remains　poor.　We　have　explored　the　effects　of　using　genetically　modified　mesenchymal　stem　cells　(MSCs)　to　treat　malignant　glioma　in　rats.　Mesenchymal　stem　cells　isolated　from　Sprague-Dawley　rats　can　directly　suppress　the　growth　of　C6　cells　in　vitro.　MSCs　transplanted　intratumorally　can　also　significantly　inhibit　the　growth　of　glioma　and　prolong　survival　in　C6　glioma-bearing　models.　MSCs　producing　Interleukin-18　infected　by　adenoviral　vector　inhibited　glioma　growth　and　prolonged　the　survival　of　glioma-bearing　rats.　Transplantation　of　IL-18　secreting　MSCs　was　associated　with　enhanced　T　cell　infiltration　and　long-term　anti-tumor　immunity.　Thus,　IL-18　may　be　an　effective　adoptive　immunotherapy　for　malignant　glioma.　When　used　in　conjunction　with　MSCs　as　targeting　vehicles　in　vivo,　IL-18　may　offer　a　promising　new　treatment　option　for　malignant　glioma.　(C)　2008　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd　on　behalf　of　International　Federation　for　Cell　Biology.