The invention relates to a composition which induces, in a host, a cytotoxic cell response directed against cells expressing an antigen, in particular tumour cells, and which comprises red blood cells containing said antigen. These red blood cells may be in the form of an immune complex with an immunoglobulin, in particular IgG, which recognizes an epitope at the surface of the red blood cells, and/or be heat-treated or chemically treated so as to promote phagocytosis of said red blood cells by dendritic cells. As a variant, the red blood cells may be xenogenic red blood cells. The invention also relates to a therapeutic especially anti-tumour vaccine containing such a composition.

Provided are compositions, optionally pharmaceutical compositions, that include a plurality of exosomes generated from stem cells, optionally ESCs and/or iPSCs, that have been modified to express a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) polypeptide, optionally a human GM-CSF polypeptide. Also provided are methods for employing the presently disclosed compositions for preventing and/or inhibiting tumor growth in subjects in need thereof, for preventing and/or inhibiting metastases in subject in need thereof, for inducing anti-tumor immune responses in subjects, and uses of the presently disclosed compositions for prevention and/or treatment of tumors and/or cancers and for the preparation of medicaments for treatment of tumors and/or cancers.

The present invention relates to novel conjugates and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel conjugate described herein. The use of the novel conjugate to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce antibody production in a subject in need of cancer treatment, with or without an anti-cancer agent, is also provided.

Disclosed are means, methods, and compositions of matter useful for treatment of cancer through integrated immunotherapy. In one embodiment a synergistic protocol is comprised of: a) establishing a proteomic, genomic, and immunological profile of the patient; b) stimulation of a change in the tumor microenvironment in order to modify the tumor microenvironment to be more conducive to immunotherapy; c) priming the immune system in order to be prepared for immune activation; d) activate vaccination in order to induce antigen specific immune responses; e) induction of damage to the tumor in an immunogenic manner; f) immune focusing by utilization of epitope specific vaccination; and g) boosting the immune response.

The invention relates to a composition which induces, in a host, a cytotoxic cell response directed against cells expressing an antigen, in particular tumour cells, and which comprises red blood cells containing said antigen. These red blood cells may be in the form of an immune complex with an immunoglobulin, in particular IgG, which recognizes an epitope at the surface of the red blood cells, and/or be heat-treated or chemically treated so as to promote phagocytosis of said red blood cells by dendritic cells. As a variant, the red blood cells may be xenogenic red blood cells. The invention also relates to a therapeutic especially anti-tumour vaccine containing such a composition.

Human antibodies which specifically bind to human CTLA-4, and related antibody-based compositions and molecules, are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the human antibodies, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the human antibodies.

Production of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing cell having excellent target cytotoxicity. Provided is a genetically modified cell comprising, introduced thereinto, a polynucleotide encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) protein having a target binding domain that specifically binds to a human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor, a transmembrane domain and an intracellular signaling domain.

A cancer vaccine technology is provided which knocks out expression of cell surface immune checkpoint proteins, to facilitate their processing by immune cells, and optionally by knocking-in the expression of cytokines to boost immune response. Non-replicating tumor cells lacking cell surface CD47 are highly effective immunizing agents against subcutaneous mouse melanoma. Whole-cell vaccines inhibited tumor growth, and immunophenotyping showed a dramatic increase in activated effector cell subsets and M1-type macrophages aided by a significant reduction in the tumor-associated macrophage and myeloid derived suppressor cell compartments. A remarkable downregulation of cell surface CD47 was observed in the tumors that did escape after vaccination with genetically modified cells, suggesting the intricate involvement of CD47 in a prophylactic situation. An effective vaccination strategy to increase tumor-specific immune response in solid tumors is provided to improve the outcome of cancer immunotherapy.

Methods are disclosed for inhibiting the development of a tumor in a subject. The methods include administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a dominant negative tumor necrosis factor (DN-TNF)- protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding the DN-TNF- protein. The DN-TNF- protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding the DN-TNF- protein can be administered alone or in combination with other agents.

Provided are compositions, optionally pharmaceutical compositions, that include a plurality of exosomes generated from stem cells, optionally ESCs and/or iPSCs, that have been modified to express a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) polypeptide, optionally a human GM-CSF polypeptide. Also provided are methods for employing the presently disclosed compositions for preventing and/or inhibiting tumor growth in subjects in need thereof, for preventing and/or inhibiting metastases in subject in need thereof, for inducing anti-tumor immune responses in subjects, and uses of the presently disclosed compositions for prevention and/or treatment of tumors and/or cancers and for the preparation of medicaments for treatment of tumors and/or cancers.