Relapse in adoptive cell transfer of CAR-T cells is often the result of CAR-T cells disappearance. Disclosed herein a method for enhancing CAR-T cell therapy in a subject, comprising administering to a subject undergoing adoptive cell transfer of therapeutic CAR-T cells an Akt inhibitor in an amount effective to increase the persistence of the CAR-T cells. As a consequence, a subject treated with a combination of CAR-T cells and an Akt inhibitor is less likely to relapse. Therefore, also disclosed herein is a method for treating a subject, comprising adoptively transferring to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a CAR-T cell, and administering to the subject an Akt inhibitor in an amount effective to increase the persistence of the CAR-T cells.

Relapse in adoptive cell transfer of CAR-T cells is often the result of CAR-T cells disappearance. Disclosed herein a method for enhancing CAR-T cell therapy in a subject, comprising administering to a subject undergoing adoptive cell transfer of therapeutic CAR-T cells an Akt inhibitor in an amount effective to increase the persistence of the CAR-T cells. As a consequence, a subject treated with a combination of CAR-T cells and an Akt inhibitor is less likely to relapse. Therefore, also disclosed herein is a method for treating a subject, comprising adoptively transferring to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising a CAR-T cell, and administering to the subject an Akt inhibitor in an amount effective to increase the persistence of the CAR-T cells.

Provided is an antibody, which is capable of specifically binding to a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). The provided BCMA antibody is capable of specifically binding to an extracellular fragment of the BCMA and has excellent affinity and specificity; and the antibody is a functional antibody and has the activity blocking binding of the BCMA with its ligand APRIL. Immune cells constructed based on the antibody has an excellent specific killing function for a BCMA-positive tumor cell.

Provided is an antibody, which is capable of specifically binding to a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA). The provided BCMA antibody is capable of specifically binding to an extracellular fragment of the BCMA and has excellent affinity and specificity; and the antibody is a functional antibody and has the activity blocking binding of the BCMA with its ligand APRIL. Immune cells constructed based on the antibody has an excellent specific killing function for a BCMA-positive tumor cell.

Provided are methods, compositions, and cells for use in adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of cancer. The methods involve administering an effective amount of cells to a subject, wherein the cells are modified ex vivo to suppress endogenous Zbtb20 expression and/or activity within the modified cells. The cells may comprise a dominant negative Zbtb20 capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 activity, at least one shRNA capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 expression, or at least one sgRNA capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 expression. The cells may further comprise an exogenous TCR and/or CAR suitable for treating cancer. The method can further involve administering one or more additional cancer therapies, such as cells which express at least one exogenous TCR and/or CAR suitable for treating cancer. The method can provide various advantages, such as a reduction and/or elimination of an amount of cancer cells in the subject.

Provided are methods, compositions, and cells for use in adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of cancer. The methods involve administering an effective amount of cells to a subject, wherein the cells are modified ex vivo to suppress endogenous Zbtb20 expression and/or activity within the modified cells. The cells may comprise a dominant negative Zbtb20 capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 activity, at least one shRNA capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 expression, or at least one sgRNA capable of suppressing endogenous Zbtb20 expression. The cells may further comprise an exogenous TCR and/or CAR suitable for treating cancer. The method can further involve administering one or more additional cancer therapies, such as cells which express at least one exogenous TCR and/or CAR suitable for treating cancer. The method can provide various advantages, such as a reduction and/or elimination of an amount of cancer cells in the subject.

Embodiments of the disclosure encompass improvements on cell therapies by allowing the cells to be more effective for cancer treatment, including in a solid tumor microenvironment. In specific cases, the cells are modified to have reduced or inhibited levels of expression of T-Cell Death Associated Gene 8 (TDAG8), such as by CRISPR gene editing. In specific cases, the cells are further modified to express, for example, one or more engineered receptors, one or more cytokines, and optionally a suicide gene.

Embodiments of the disclosure encompass improvements on cell therapies by allowing the cells to be more effective for cancer treatment, including in a solid tumor microenvironment. In specific cases, the cells are modified to have reduced or inhibited levels of expression of T-Cell Death Associated Gene 8 (TDAG8), such as by CRISPR gene editing. In specific cases, the cells are further modified to express, for example, one or more engineered receptors, one or more cytokines, and optionally a suicide gene.

Methods and systems to reduce neurotoxicity associated with the treatment of CD19.sup.+ B-cell hyperproliferative disorders are disclosed. Neurotoxicity is reduced by the use of agents that protect CD19.sup.+ neurovascular pericytes and/or CD19.sup.+ vSMCs from attack by CD19-targeted therapy, and by modification of CD19-targeted therapy to avoid CD19.sup.+ pericytes and/or CD19.sup.+ vSMCs.

Disclosed herein are fusion proteins having a first domain that activates an antigen-presenting cell (APC) (e.g., a dendritic cell) by binding to an activation receptor of the APC, and a second domain that activates an immune effector cell (e.g., a T cell) by targeting a co-stimulatory signaling pathway of the immune effector cell, as well as polynucleotides that encode such fusion proteins. Disclosed herein are also genetically engineered immune effector cells expressing such fusion protein, methods of their production, and their uses in treatment of diseases such as cancers.