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.

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.

In certain embodiments, methods and compositions are provided for generating immune responses against tumor neo-antigens or neo-epitopes. In particular embodiments there may be provided methods for constructing and producing recombinant adenovirus-based vector vaccines containing nucleic acid sequences encoding tumor neo-antigens and neo-epitopes that allow for vaccinations in individuals with preexisting immunity to adenovirus. In additional embodiments, methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of cancer using immunotherapy based on recombinant adenovirus-based vectors combined with engineered natural killer cells. In some embodiments, the methods and compositions further comprises a nucleic acid encoding for an immunological fusion partner.

The present invention comprises compositions, methods, and devices for enhancing an endogenous immune response against a cancer. Devices and methods provide therapeutic immunity to subjects against cancer.

The success of anti-tumor immune responses requires effector T cells to infiltrate solid tumors, a process guided by chemokines. Herein, we demonstrate that in vivo post-translational processing of chemokines by dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (DPP4, also known as CD26) limits lymphocyte migration to sites of inflammation and tumors. Inhibition of DPP4 enzymatic activity enhanced tumor rejection by preserving biologically active CXCL10, and increasing trafficking into the tumor by lymphocytes expressing the counter-receptor CXCR3. Furthermore, DPP4 inhibition improved adjuvant-based immunotherapy, adoptive T cell transfer and checkpoint blockade. These findings provide the first direct in vivo evidence for controlling lymphocyte trafficking through CXCL10 cleavage and support the use of DPP4 inhibitors for stabilizing the biologically active form of chemokines as a strategy to enhance tumor immunotherapy.

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.

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 invention concerns a nucleotide sequence expressing a fusion protein, said fusion protein comprising or consisting of an exosome-anchoring protein fused at its C-terminus with an antigen, or a DNA expression vector comprising said nucleotide sequence, for use as vaccine.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an immunotherapeutic yeast, said immunotherapeutic yeast expressing one or more tumor antigen(s) at its wall, and also to immunotherapeutic yeasts capable of being obtained by carrying out the process of the invention.

Disclosed herein are alphavirus vectors that include neoantigen-encoding nucleic acid sequences derived from a tumor of a subject. Also disclosed are nucleotides, cells, and methods associated with the vectors including their use as vaccines.