Fighting fire with fire: a patent for the combined application of oncolytic herpes viruses and antiangiogenic agents in the battle against human cancers.

Specific elimination of tumor cells by replication-competent viral vectors is mediated through active viral replication, spread in tumor tissue and direct cytopathic effects. In addition, immune responses are induced against virally infected tumor cells. Recently, oncolytic vectors were constructed with mutations in neurovirulence genes or DNA synthesis genes. Viral replication should only be restricted to malignant cells to prevent severe viral disease. These constructed vectors terminate cells by mechanisms different from standard anti-cancer therapies; they offer another treatment modality which can be used in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and gene therapies with additive or synergistic effects. Combination therapies are usually necessary to control tumorigenic diseases. Inhibiting angiogenesis represents another new field in current anticancer treatment development. Combining an oncolytic virus with antiangiogenesis is able to potentiate both treatment effects compared to each treatment modality alone in both primary and advanced disease. This combination might be beneficial for cancer patients in the future. We have also outlined some relevant patents.