The present invention relates to low affinity dual chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which provide cytotoxicity against heterogenous tumors and alleviate on-target, off-tumor toxicities. The dual CARs are constructed to have two binding domains bearing reduced affinities of 50 nM to 50 μM, one of which is the inserted or I domain of the α.sub.L subunit of Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1, and the other one is scFv of EpCAM antibody. The dual CAR T cells of the present invention provide enhanced anti-tumor activity and reduced rate of tumor relapse.

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 present invention provides immunoresponsive cells, including T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells, expressing an antigen recognizing receptor and an inhibitory chimeric antigen receptor (iCAR). Methods of using the immunoresponsive cell include those for the treatment of neoplasia and other pathologies where an increase in an antigen-specific immune response is desired.

The present invention provides a complex for use in the prevention and/or treatment of cancer, the complex comprising a) a cell penetrating peptide, b) at least one antigen or antigenic epitope, and c) at least one TLR peptide agonist, wherein the components a)-c) are covalently linked. In particular, compositions for use in the prevention and/or treatment of cancer, such as a pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines are provided.

Provided herein are immunoresponsive cells expressing a MUC1 targeting pCAR comprising a second generation chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a chimeric co-stimulatory receptor (CCR). Also provided herein are methods of preparing the immunoresponsive cells and methods of directing T cell mediated immune response using the immunoresponsive cells.

The present invention is directed to transduced T cells expressing at least 100,000 molecules of human somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), which improves PET/CT imaging sensitivity. The present invention is also directed to transduced T cells expressing SSTR2 and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). In one embodiment, the CAR is specific to human ICAM-1 and the CAR comprises a binding domain that is scFv of anti-human ICAM-1, or an I domain of the αL subunit of human lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1. In another embodiment, the CAR is specific to human CD19, and the CAR comprises a binding domain that is scFv of anti-human CD19. The present invention is further directed to using the above transduced T cells for monitoring T cell distribution in a patient by PET/CT imaging and/or treating cancer.

The present invention relates to a cell which comprises a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising a binding domain which binds a first epitope of a tumour antigen; and a polynucleotide which encodes a bi-specific protein which comprises a first binding domain which binds a second epitope of said tumour antigen; and a second binding domain which binds a cell surface antigen. The present invention also provides CAR systems, nucleic acids, vectors, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment and/or prevention of disease.

The present invention relates to a cell which comprises a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising a binding domain which binds a first epitope of a tumour antigen; and a polynucleotide which encodes a bi-specific protein which comprises a first binding domain which binds a second epitope of said tumour antigen; and a second binding domain which binds a cell surface antigen. The present invention also provides CAR systems, nucleic acids, vectors, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment and/or prevention of disease.

Provided herein are methods for delaying or inhibiting T cell maturation or differentiation in vitro for a T cell therapy, comprising contacting one or more T cells from a subject in need of a T cell therapy with an AKT inhibitor and at least one of exogenous Interleukin-7 (IL-7) and exogenous Interleukin-15 (IL-15), wherein the resulting T cells exhibit delayed maturation or differentiation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises administering the one or more T cells to a subject in need of a T cell therapy.

The present disclosure provides an allogeneic whole cell cancer vaccine platform that includes compositions and methods for treating and preventing breast cancer. Provided herein are compositions containing a therapeutically effective amount of cells from one or more cancer cell lines, some or all of which are modified to (i) inhibit or reduce expression of one or more immunosuppressive factors by the cells, and/or (ii) express or increase expression of one or more immunostimulatory factors by the cells, and/or (iii) express or increase expression of one or more tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), including TAAs that have been mutated, and which comprise cancer cell lines that natively express a heterogeneity of tumor associated antigens and/or neoantigens, and/or (iv) express one or more tumor fitness advantage mutations, including but not limited to driver mutations. Also provided herein are methods of making and preparing the breast cancer vaccine compositions and methods of use thereof.