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 concerns methods and compositions for immunotherapy employing a modified T cell comprising a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). In particular aspects, CAR-expressing T-cells are producing using electroporation in conjunction with a transposon-based integration system to produce a population of CAR-expressing cells that require minimal ex vivo expansion or that can be directly administered to patients for disease (e.g., cancer) treatment.

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 application relates generally to genetically modified arenaviruses that are suitable vaccines against neoplastic diseases, such as cancer. The arenaviruses described herein may be suitable for vaccines and/or treatment of neoplastic diseases and/or for the use in immunotherapies. In particular, provided herein are methods and compositions for treating a neoplastic disease by administering a genetically modified arenavirus in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, wherein the arenavirus has been engineered to include a nucleotide sequence encoding a tumor antigen, tumor associated antigen or antigenic fragment thereof.

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

The present invention is directed to adenoviruses for use in cancer therapy which comprise one or more heterologous nucleic acid sequences encoding a tumor antigen, whereby the adenovirus expresses the tumor antigen(s) on its surface.

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 application relates to a GD2-based chimeric antigen receptor comprising an antigen-binding domain, a transmembrane domain, a costimulatory signaling domain, a CD3ζ signaling domain, and a self-destructive domain in tandem arrangement; wherein the antigen-binding domain binds to a tumor surface antigen, wherein the tumor surface antigen is GD2, and the antigen-binding domain is a single-chain antibody against the tumor surface antigen GD2, wherein the self-destructive domain is a caspase 9 domain.

Provided herein are immunogenic compositions comprising a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD40 ligand (CD4OL) and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a heterologous disease-associated antigen, wherein the immunogenic composition induces increases T-cell immune responses specific for the heterologous disease-associated antigen when administered to a human host, and related methods and uses.

Method for the production of bi-functional cells comprising engineering a starting cell population with a phenotype attributable to human pericytes extracted from adipose tissue (AD-PC), obtaining engineered cells, known as bi-functional AD-PCs, expressing (which means that they produce) simultaneously both the anti-tumor molecule TRAIL and also the truncated form of a chimeric receptor targeted against the GD2 antigen (GD2 tCAR); this dual targeting (understood as reaching a specific target), based on affinity and mediated by both TRAIL and also GD2 tCAR, supports the prediction of combining site-specificity with a prolonged retention of AD-PCs in tumors expressing the antigen GD2, so as to achieve a more effective release of TRAIL for still incurable tumors.