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 provides an active cancer vaccine and specifically an immunogenic compositions of membrane vesicles that serve as biomimetic nanoparticles derived from eukaryotic cell membranes that bear N-glycolylneuraminic acid glycoconjugates. These compositions can elicit beneficial immunological responses for treatment of Neu5Gc-positive tumors. The present invention provides methods of generating and using Neu5Gc-conjugated nanoparticles from eukaryotic cells membranes designated nano-ghosts.

Provided herein are chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising an antigen binding domain (e.g., CD19, CD30, GD2, etc.), transmembrane domain (e.g., CD28), and a cytoplasmic domain (e.g., CD27, 4-1BB, etc.). In some aspects, the disclosure relates to use of the CARs in T cells, compositions, kits and methods.

A method of treating cancer in a subject is disclosed, the method comprising administration of an oncolytic herpes simplex virus and administration of lymphocyte cells modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or modified to express a T cell receptor (TCR).

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

Provided herein are cell surface receptors that include an extracellular binding domain, a transmembrane domain, an intracellular signaling domain, and a protease cleavage site disposed between the extracellular binding domain and the intracellular signaling domain. In certain aspects, the cell surface receptors are engineered cell surface receptors, such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Also provided are cells that include such receptors (e.g., where the cells express the receptors on their surface) and pharmaceutical compositions including such cells. Nucleic acids that encode the cell surface receptors, cells including such nucleic acids, and pharmaceutical compositions including such cells, are also provided. Also provided are methods for regulating signaling of a cell surface receptor, and methods of using the cells of the present disclosure, including methods of using such cells to administer a regulatable cell-based therapy to an individual.

Provision of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising a disialoganglioside (GD2)-binding domain which comprises •a) a heavy chain variable region (VH) having complementarity determining regions (CDRs) with the following sequences: •b) a light chain variable region (VL) having CDRs with the following sequences: T cells expressing such a CAR are useful in the treatment of some cancers.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods that include delivering to a subject a nucleic acid encoding an antigen, wherein the nucleic acid is delivered via a tumor-selective vehicle or via intratumoral injection, and delivering to the subject an immune cell expressing a receptor that binds to the antigen.