Contemplated compositions and methods generate a durable immune synapse and so lead to activated T-cells and memory T-cell formation by use of selected co-stimulatory receptors and their ligands in conjunction with selected neoepitopes. Moreover, immune competent cells are attracted into a tumor microenvironment after activation of the T-cells using hybrid or chimeric binding proteins that comprise a chemokine portion and that target components of necrotic cells.

The present disclosure relates to genetically modified T cells comprising a transgene encoding an engineered antigen specific receptor, wherein expression of an endogenous gene selected from MNK1, MNK2, or both are inhibited in the genetically modified T cell in order to enhance central memory T cell subsets in cellular immunotherapy compositions.

Embodiments described herein relate to compositions including genetically modified CAR cells and uses thereof for treating cancer. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to compositions and methods for T cell response enhancement and/or CAR cell preparation. For example, a method may include obtaining cells comprising a CAR and culturing the cells in the presence of an agent that is recognized by the extracellular domain of the CAR.

Provided are antibodies that specifically bind Vaccinia Virus (VV) A56 or B5 antigen. Also provided are fusion proteins and conjugates that comprise the antibodies. Pharmaceutical compositions and kits that comprise the antibodies, fusion proteins and conjugates are also provided. Aspects of the present disclosure further include methods of using the antibodies, fusion proteins and conjugates, e.g., for therapeutic purposes. In certain embodiments, provided are methods that comprise administering an antibody, fusion protein or conjugate of the present disclosure to an individual having cancer, wherein the individual comprises cancer cells infected with VV, and wherein the antibody, fusion protein or conjugate is targeted to the infected cancer cells by VV antigens expressed on the surface of the infected cancer cells. Aspects of the present disclosure further include methods of targeting an antibody, fusion protein, or conjugate that specifically binds an oncolytic virus (OV) antigen to cancer cells in an individual.

Methods of increasing T cell effector function in a T cell population are provided that involve inhibiting one or more genetic subunits of the SAGA (Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase) gene regulation complex in the T cell population. Also provided are methods of using such T cell populations in the treatment of cancer patients.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.

The invention relates to a method of isolating a T cell that expresses a T cell receptor capable of binding specifically to an antigen presented by a cancer cell in association with an MR1 molecule. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a preparation of T cells, (b) contacting the preparation with cancer cells expressing MR1 protein; (c) isolating a T cell that is specifically reactive to said cancer cells. The invention further relates to a method of preparing a T cell preparation expressing select MR1 recognizing T cell receptors from transgene expression vectors, the use of such T cell preparations in treatment of cancer, and to collections of MR1 reactive T cell receptor encoding nucleic acids and cells.

The present invention is targeted towards reinvigorating exhausted Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) in vitro by co-culturing excised TIL containing tumor fragments with checkpoint inhibitors, stimulating the TILs with other interleukins known to revert T cell exhaustion), and/or inhibiting the effect of regulatory T cells secreted factors (such as IL-10) thereby creating a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) where exhausted T-cells can expand faster and to higher numbers than currently established TIL expansion protocols.

The present invention relates to methods for expanding TILs from tumor tissue using a long first expansion process and a shorter second expansion process. A method for expanding TIL includes obtaining a first population of TILs from a tumor resected from a subject, performing a first expansion for a period of about 21 day to about 35 days by culturing the first population of TILs in a cell culture medium comprising 4-1BB agonist, IL-2, and OKT-3 to produce a second population of TILs, and performing a second expansion for a period of about 7 days to about 10 days by supplementing the cell culture medium of the second population of TILs with antigen presenting cells (APCs) and additional 4-1BB agonist, IL-2, and OKT-3, and culturing to produce a third population of TILs, wherein the third population of TILs is a therapeutic population of TILs.

Embodiments herein described provide antigen-presenting cell-mimetic scaffolds (APC-MS) and use of such scaffolds to manipulating T-cells. More specifically, the scaffolds are useful for promoting growth, division, differentiation, expansion, proliferation, activity, viability, exhaustion, anergy, quiescence, apoptosis, or death of T-cells in various settings, e.g., in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo. Embodiments described herein further relate to pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and packages containing such scaffolds. Additional embodiments relate to methods for making the scaffolds, compositions, and kits/packages. Also described herein are methods for using the scaffolds, compositions, and/or kits in the diagnosis or therapy of diseases such as cancers, immunodeficiency disorders, and/or autoimmune disorders.