Malignant gliomas (MGs) are highly vascularized, aggressive brain cancers carrying a dismal prognosis. Because of their high vascularity, anti-angiogenic therapy is a potential treatment option. Indeed, the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials. Similarly, adenovirus-medicated Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase and ganciclovir (AdHSV-tk/GCV) suicide gene therapy has established itself in clinical trials as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for MGs. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of combining adenovirus-mediated soluble VEGF receptor-1 anti-angiogenic gene therapy with AdHSV-tk/GCV suicide gene therapy to treat experimental MGs. Our results reveal that, apart from inhibiting angiogenesis, other anti-tumor mechanisms, such as reduction of infiltration by tumor-associated macrophages/microglia, may contribute to the improved therapeutic benefit of combination therapy.
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