Provided are engineered primary blood and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, wherein the dendritic cell expresses a functional Tax protein from a T cell leukemia virus, and methods of making and using the same.

The disclosure relates to methods, cells, and compositions for preparing cell populations and compositions for adoptive cell therapy. In particular, provided herein are methods for expansion and proliferation of primary immune cells including T cell populations.

Provided are engineered primary blood and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, wherein the dendritic cell expresses a functional Tax protein from a T cell leukemia virus, and methods of making and using the same.

Described herein are compositions of matter and methods for treating cancer. The compositions comprise altered human telomerase polypeptides containing T cell epitopes that have been altered to increase immunogenicity. The methods comprise administration of the polypeptides or nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA encoding the polypeptides, to individuals afflicted with, or at risk of, developing cancer.

The present invention relates generally to the treatment of PML by infusion of activated and expanded autologous lymphocytes.

Provided is a method for isolating and proliferating autologous cancer antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells, and more particularly, a method for selecting an epitope recognized by CD8.sup.+ T cells from autologous cancer antigens present in blood of individual cancer patients; and isolating autologous cancer antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells by using a peptide of the selected epitope, and a method of massively proliferating CD8.sup.+ T cells by using the method. According to the present invention, it is possible to isolate autologous cancer antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells by using the peptide of the CD8 T cell epitope of the autologous cancer antigen present in blood of individual cancer patients instead of a heterologous antigen. Therefore, by using T cells recognizing the autologous cancer antigen, it is possible to effectively select and eliminate cancer cells derived from the cancer patient's own cells. Thus, T cells can be applied to treatment and alleviation of cancer diseases without side effects.

Described herein are compositions of matter and methods for treating cancer. The compositions comprise altered human telomerase polypeptides containing T cell epitopes that have been altered to increase immunogenicity. The methods comprise administration of the polypeptides or nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA encoding the polypeptides, to individuals afflicted with, or at risk of, developing cancer.

Provided is a method for isolating and proliferating autologous cancer antigen-specific CD8.sup.+T cells, and more particularly, a method for selecting an epitope recognized by CD8.sup.+ T cells from autologous cancer antigens present in blood of individual cancer patients; and isolating autologous cancer antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells by using a peptide of the selected epitope, and a method of massively proliferating CD8.sup.+ T cells by using the method. According to the present invention, it is possible to isolate autologous cancer antigen-specific CD8.sup.+ T cells by using the peptide of the CD8 T cell epitope of the autologous cancer antigen present in blood of individual cancer patients instead of a heterologous antigen. Therefore, by using T cells recognizing the autologous cancer antigen, it is possible to effectively select and eliminate cancer cells derived from the cancer patient's own cells. Thus, T cells can be applied to treatment and alleviation of cancer diseases without side effects.