It is disclosed herein that (a) an anti-tumor DNA vaccine delivered using a MIP DNA vector is a less effective tumor treatment than the corresponding anti-tumor DNA vaccine delivered using a conventional pDNA vector, despite the MIP DNA vector eliciting a higher frequency of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells; and (b) tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells in animals immunized with the MIP DNA vector express higher levels of the immune checkpoint protein LAG-3 than animals immunized with a conventional pDNA vector, while the expression levels of other immune checkpoint proteins was the same for both groups. Based on these findings, improved methods and compositions for administering DNA vaccines are disclosed. Specifically, DNA vaccines delivered with MIP DNA are administered along with a LAG-3 pathway blocking agent, resulting in a more effective vaccine-induced cellular immune response.

The invention provides compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with expression of a cancer associated antigen as described herein. The invention also relates to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific to a cancer associated antigen as described herein, vectors encoding the same, and recombinant T cells comprising the CARs of the present invention. The invention also includes methods of administering a genetically modified T cell expressing a CAR that comprises an antigen binding domain that binds to a cancer associated antigen as described herein.

Disclosed are compositions of matters, cells, and treatment protocols useful for induction of anticancer responses in a patient suffering from cancer. In one embodiment the invention provides the use of NR2F6 silencing or gene editing in cord blood cells possessing anti-tumor activity in order to induce potentiated killer cells suitable for therapeutic use. In one embodiment said allogeneic cord blood killer cells are administered to initiate a cascade of antitumor immune responses, with initially responses mediated by allogeneic killer cells, and followed by endogenous immune responses.

The present invention provides novel and inventive drug delivery systems with higher loading capability, a capacity to sequester high tumors levels of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents simultaneously, and longer release profiles. Some aspects of these delivery systems include compositions including stabilized multilamellar lipid vesicles having crosslinked lipid bilayers (referred to herein as inter-bilayer-crosslinked multilamellar vesicles or ICMV) covalently conjugated to an agent (e.g., an antigen).

Embodiments of the disclosure include compositions and methods effective for immunotherapy, such as for cancer. The embodiments include cells that recognize a combination of two signals or three signals present at the tumor microenvironment. In certain embodiments, the signals for antigen stimulation, co-stimulation, and cytokine signaling act through separate molecules, although in certain embodiments the signals for antigen stimulation and co-stimulation are transmitted through the same molecule.

Disclosed herein are cells that are immune cells or precursor cells thereof, which cells recombinantly express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), and a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a cell-mediated immune response of the immune cell, wherein the CAR binds to a cancer antigen. Also disclosed herein are T cells that recognize and are sensitized to a cancer antigen, which T cells recombinantly express a dominant negative form of an inhibitor of a T cell-mediated immune response. Additionally provided are methods of using such cells to treat cancer in a subject in need thereof.

The present invention relates to a complex of a protein comprising zinc oxide-binding peptides and zinc oxide nanoparticles, to the use thereof as a drug delivery carrier for manufacturing medicines, and to a vaccine composition and a contrast agent comprising the composite. The protein comprising zinc oxide-binding peptides significantly improves the in vivo availability of zinc oxide-binding peptides, and therefore the complex of the present invention can be used not only as a drug delivery carrier for in vivo drug delivery or intracellular drug delivery, but also for in vivo imaging or cell imaging. The complex can be used for producing separating agents for effectively separating biological materials, therapeutic agents for hyperthermia, etc., contrast agents for MRI, and beads applicable to biosensors.

The invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for cancer therapy using recombinant poxviruses encoding a tumor-associated antigen in combination with antagonists or agonists of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The present invention relates to nanoparticles complexed with biomacromolecule agents configured for treating, preventing or ameliorating various types of disorders, and methods of synthesizing the same. In particular, the present invention is directed to compositions comprising nanoparticles (e.g., synthetic high density lipoprotein (sHDL)) carrying biomacromolecule agents (e.g., nucleic acid, peptides, glycolipids, etc.), methods for synthesizing such nanoparticles, as well as systems and methods utilizing such nanoparticles (e.g., in diagnostic and/or therapeutic settings).

Disclosed are means, methods and compositions of matter useful for amplification of adaptive immune responses towards neoplastic tissue. In one embodiment, immunization of a patient is performed by a means comprising of administering either an exogenous vaccine or stimulation of immunogenicity of the tumor so as to cause release of antigens/increased exposure of antigens, thus resulting in an “endogenous” vaccine. Subsequent to vaccination a patient is treated by an immunopheresis procedure, in order to allow for removal of “blocking factors” produced by the tumor or produced by cells programmed by tumors to produce said blocking factors. In one embodiment further immunization is performed subsequent to removal of said blocking factors in order to allow for enhancement of adaptive immune responses