This disclosure relates to T cell receptors (e.g., T cell receptors comprising alpha chains and beta chains) specific to B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), T cells comprising same, and methods of use thereof.

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.

Materials and methods for producing genome-edited cells engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct on the cell surface, and materials and methods for genome editing to modulate the expression, function, or activity of one or more immuno-oncology related genes in a cell, and materials and methods for treating a patient using the genome-edited engineered cells.

The present invention relates to antigen-based immunotherapy, in particular cancer immunotherapy. In particular, the present invention provides antigenic peptides, which are distinct from, but have amino acid similarity to, especially share the same core sequence with epitopes of human tumor antigens. The present invention further provides immunogenic compounds, nanoparticles, cells and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such antigenic peptides and nucleic acids encoding such antigenic peptides.

Provided is a method for gene editing of a cell on the basis of a CRISPR/Cas system. The Cas enzyme is a Cas9 enzyme having an enzyme activity of 0.1-1 nmol. Further provided are a method for constructing a universal T cell, a T cell so prepared and use thereof. TCR genes and MHC genes of a T cell are edited by means of gene editing technology. Further provided is a gRNA construct.

The present invention is directed to a humanized BCMA single-chain variable fragment (scFv), comprising V.sub.H having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and V.sub.L having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5. The present invention is also directed to a BCMA chimeric antigen receptor fusion protein comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus: (i) a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of the present invention, (ii) a transmembrane domain, (iii) at least one co-stimulatory domains, and (iv) an activating domain. This humanized BCMA-CAR-T cells have specific killing activity against BCMA-positive tumor cells.

Methods for improving a clinical outcome in a subject comprising administering to a subject in need of the treatment a population of genetically engineered immune cells (e.g., T cells), which express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a natural killer (NK) cell inhibitor (e.g., daratumumab). The genetically engineered immune cells may comprise a disrupted TRAC gene, a disrupted B2M gene, or both. The disclosure also features compositions for use in the methods.

Provided herein are chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), such as those specific for BCMA, that have improved properties, including increased CAR T cell binding to BCMA and improved CAR T cell killing of BCMA-expressing cancer cells. Use of the CARs in immune cells (e.g., T cells), compositions (e.g., CARs and nucleic acid constructs encoding the same), and methods are also contemplated.

The present invention provides engineered cells having at least one chimeric antigen receptor polypeptide, and optionally at least one of a cytokine and chemokine.

Methods are disclosed for inhibiting the development of a tumor in a subject. The methods include administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a dominant negative tumor necrosis factor (DN-TNF)-α protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding the DN-TNF-α protein. The DN-TNF-α protein and/or a nucleic acid encoding the DN-TNF-α protein can be administered alone or in combination with other agents.