The HSV-1 based oncolytic platform possesses several relevant features: (i) the clinical validation and the possibility to counteract adverse effects by antiviral drugs52; (ii) a large and easy-to-manipulate genome that allows to host payloads of interest; (iii) genetically editable envelope glycoproteins to target cancer cells; (iv) the proven ability to act as a cancer vaccine conferring immunological memory against treated tumours27,53. This evidence concerns the gene ERVW-1 and cancer.