Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods for the identification of cells exhibiting a cell proliferative disorder that are amenable to treatment with a herpes simplex virus that does not express an approximately wild-type level of ICP34.5. Also provided are methods of treating cell proliferative diseases, disorders or conditions, such as cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and macular degeneration, using these HSVs. Further provided are methods for preventing such cell proliferative disorders by administering the HSVs as well as methods for ameliorating a symptom associated with a cell proliferative disorder by administering such HSVs.