The present invention relates to a method for producing a DNA vaccine for cancer immunotherapy comprising at least the steps of (a) transforming an attenuated strain of Salmonella with at least one DNA molecule comprising at least one expression cassette encoding at least one antigen or at least one fragment thereof; (b) characterizing at least one transformed cell clone obtained in step (a); and (c) selecting at least one of the transformed cell clone(s) characterized in step (b) and further characterizing said at least one selected transformed cell clone. The present invention further relates to a DNA vaccine obtainable by the method according to the present invention.

The present invention provides immunoresponsive cells, including T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells, expressing at least one of an antigen recognizing receptor and one of a chimeric costimulatory receptor. 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.

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 methods comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of an agent that decreases or inhibits TIGIT expression and/or activity and an anti-cancer agent and/or an anti-cancer therapy. Further provided are kits comprising an anti-cancer agent, an agent that decreases or inhibits TIGIT expression and/or activity, or both, as well as instructions for use thereof.

Vector compositions comprising a myeloproliferative sarcoma virus enhancer, negative control region deleted, dl587rev primer-binding site substituted (MND) promoter operably linked to a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) are provided.

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.

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 provides recombinant Listeria strains comprising an angiogenic factor, recombinant polypeptides comprising an angiogenic factor operatively linked to a polypeptide comprising a PEST-like sequence, recombinant nucleotide molecules encoding same, related vaccines, and immunogenic and therapeutic methods utilizing same.

A peptide vaccine for cranial nerve disease, containing a peptide that induces cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) against Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR)-1-expressing cells, or a peptide that induces CTLs against VEGFR-2-expressing cells.

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and CAR-expressing T cells are provided that can specifically target cells that express an elevated level of a target antigen. Likewise, methods for specifically targeting cells that express elevated levels of antigen (e.g., cancer cells) with CAR T-cell therapies are provided.