Combined therapy with a chemotherapeutic agent and an oncolytic virus for killing tumor cells in a subject

The invention includes methods, compositions, and kits for killing tumor cells in a subject such as a human patient. The methods comprise administering both a chemotherapeutic agent and an oncolytic virus other than an adenovirus to a subject which has tumor cells. The agent and virus exhibit oncolytic activities that are at least additive, and that may be synergetic. The oncolytic virus may, for example, be a herpes simplex virus (type 1 or 2), a vaccinia virus, a vesicular stomatitis virus, or a Newcastle disease virus. The compositions and kits comprise a chemotherapeutic agent and an oncolytic virus other than an adenovirus, either in admixture or separately.