A modified immune effector cell and a use thereof, a cell population containing the immune effector cell, and a pharmaceutical composition. The expression and/or activity of an S1PR1 protein of the modified immune effector cell is up-regulated.

This disclosure is directed to methods of preparing dendritic cells or other CD40 bearing antigen-presenting cells and methods of treating cancer by using the dendritic cells or other antigen-presenting cells in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. This disclosure is further directed to methods of preparing T cells and methods of treating cancer, by activated T cells optionally in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. The antigen presenting cells of the disclosure are activated by incubation with cancer cells and fusion proteins. The T cells of the disclosures are activated by incubation with activated antigen-presenting cells that were activated by incubation with cancer cells and a fusion protein. In particular, the fusion protein comprises an antigen-binding domain, e.g., an antibody or antibody fragment, and a stress protein domain.

This disclosure is directed to methods of preparing dendritic cells or other CD40 bearing antigen-presenting cells and methods of treating cancer by using the dendritic cells or other antigen-presenting cells in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. This disclosure is further directed to methods of preparing T cells and methods of treating cancer, by activated T cells optionally in combination with anti-chemorepellant agents. The antigen presenting cells of the disclosure are activated by incubation with cancer cells and fusion proteins. The T cells of the disclosures are activated by incubation with activated antigen-presenting cells that were activated by incubation with cancer cells and a fusion protein. In particular, the fusion protein comprises an antigen-binding domain, e.g., an antibody or antibody fragment, and a stress protein domain.

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 relates to: a method for producing immunocytes, specifically induced natural killer T (iNKT) cells that are induced by direct reprogramming of isolated somatic cells, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-iNKT cells into which a CAR gene encoding a CAR is introduced; iNKT cells produced by the method; and a cell therapy composition and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer, comprising the iNKT cells.

The method according to the present invention can produce, through direct reprogramming, iNKT cells or iNKT cells into which a CAR gene is introduced, from isolated cells so as to simplify the production process and shorten production time, thereby reducing costs, to have excellent NKT cell production efficiency, and to ensure safety according to the production without passing through induced pluripotent stem cells, thereby having an excellent NKT cell production effect distinguished from that of a conventional reprogramming technique. In addition, the iNKT cells or iNKT cells into which a CAR gene is introduced, which are produced by the method, have an excellent cancer cell killing ability, and thus can be effectively used as a cell therapy composition or a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancer.

This document provides methods and materials for expanding antigen-specific T cells (e.g., antigen-specific CD4.sup.+ T cells and/or antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells) in culture. For example, methods and materials for performing a polyclonal stimulation step for a particular duration (e.g., from about 1 hour to about 48 hours) to increase the expansion of T cells having a desired antigen specificity are provided.

Disclosed are immunotherapeutic compositions and the concurrent use of combinations of such compositions for the improved induction of therapeutic immune responses and/or for the prevention, amelioration and/or treatment of disease, including, but not limited to, cancer and infectious disease.

The present invention relates to an antigen composition comprising at least one mesothelioma cancer cell associated antigen and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for use in the treatment of cancer, in particular mesothelioma, wherein dendritic cells are loaded with said antigen composition and wherein said loaded dendritic cells are administered in combination with one or more checkpoint inhibitors, to patients. The present invention also relates to an antigen composition comprising at least two mesothelioma cancer cell associated antigens and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention further relates to an antigen composition comprising at least two mesothelioma cancer cell associated antigens and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a pharmaceutical, in particular for use in the treatment of mesothelioma.

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.