Disclosed are invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells engineered using hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and methods of making and using thereof. Specifically, the engineered cells iNKT are genetically modified to contain at least one exogenous invariant natural killer T cell receptor (iNKT TCR) nucleic acid molecule. Further disclosed are iNKT TCR nucleotide sequences and codon optimized sequences for expression.

Described herein are compositions and methods for treating cancer through the combination of tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells and Dengue Virus. The combination of the two forms of therapeutic intervention provides enhanced tumor cell reduction compared to either alone. The cancer targeted by compositions and methods described herein may be a solid cancer or blood cancer.

A method for treating or reducing the incidence of recurrence of cancer, benign tumors, or HPV-associated lesions, including skin cancer, and particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC and basal-cell carcinoma, by administering to a patient one or more doses of HPV recombinant vaccine as a first active therapeutic agent in combination with a second active therapeutic agent administered concomitantly or as a fixed-dose combination composition.

The invention described herein provide Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) oncoprotein antigens and epitopes for expanding antigen-specific T cells. Such expanded T cells are useful for, e.g., in allogeneic or off-the-shelf adoptive T cell therapy.

The success of anti-tumor immune responses requires effector T cells to infiltrate solid tumors, a process guided by chemokines. Herein, we demonstrate that in vivo post-translational processing of chemokines by dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (DPP4, also known as CD26) limits lymphocyte migration to sites of inflammation and tumors. Inhibition of DPP4 enzymatic activity enhanced tumor rejection by preserving biologically active CXCL10, and increasing trafficking into the tumor by lymphocytes expressing the counter-receptor CXCR3. Furthermore, DPP4 inhibition improved adjuvant-based immunotherapy, adoptive T cell transfer and checkpoint blockade. These findings provide the first direct in vivo evidence for controlling lymphocyte trafficking through CXCL10 cleavage and support the use of DPP4 inhibitors for stabilizing the biologically active form of chemokines as a strategy to enhance tumor immunotherapy.

This disclosure provides nano-scale Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells (aAPC), which deliver stimulatory signals to lymphocytes, including T-helper lymphocytes, for use as a powerful tool for immunotherapy.

The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Described herein are antigen binding proteins with specificity to Melanoma-Associated Antigen A4 (MAGE-A4) peptide-MHC (pMHC). Also described are multispecific antigen binding proteins comprising an antigen binding domain with specificity to CD3, and at least one MAGE-A4 pMHC antigen binding domain. Methods of treating cancer with the same are also described.

There is described herein a method for improving the anti-cancer properties of T-cells, the method comprising: providing a population of T-cells; and culturing the T-cells in an environment that activates the GCN2 pathway.

Methods of culturing T cells are provided. Accordingly there is provided a method of culturing T cells comprising culturing T cells in the presence of a T cell stimulator, an exogenous CCL21 and an exogenous ICAM1, thereby culturing the T cells. Also provided are cell cultures, isolated T cells and uses of same.