The present invention relates to methods for predicting T cell epitopes. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for predicting whether modifications in peptides or polypeptides such as tumor-associated neoantigens are immunogenic or not. The methods of the invention are useful, in particular, for the provision of vaccines which are specific for a patient's tumor and thus, in the context of personalized cancer vaccines.

A composition comprising mesoporous silica rods comprising an immune cell recruitment compound and an immune cell activation compound, and optionally comprising an antigen such as a tumor lysate. The composition is used to elicit an immune response to a vaccine antigen.

The invention provides a phagocytosable particle for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of cancer in a subject, wherein the phagocytosable particle comprises a core and a neoantigenic construct tightly associated to the core, and wherein the neoantigenic construct comprises a neoepitope peptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to an amino acid sequence of a part of a protein or peptide known or suspected to be expressed by a cancer cell in the subject, wherein the part of the protein or peptide has at least one somatic mutated amino acid. The invention also relates to injectable pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of cancer.

The present invention relates to an optimized chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), and genetically modified cells expressing the same, that can target a diverse range of cancer types. More specifically, the CAR has an optimized linker length that facilitates the targeting and lyse of a wide range of cancer cell types by CAR expressing T cells.

A chimeric oncolytic virus is described that includes a herpesvirus having a modified nucleic acid sequence, including a modification of the herpesvirus gamma (1)34.5 gene (γ.sub.134.5) or a nucleic acid with at least about 70% homology to the γ.sub.134.5 gene that reduces its expression; a second viral nucleic acid sequence encoding a PKR evasion protein that does not cause virulence; and a third nucleic acid sequence encoding a tumor-associated antigen. Methods of using the chimeric oncolytic virus to treat subjects having cancer, or to vaccinate subjects at risk of developing cancer, are also described.

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for genetically modifying lymphocytes, for example T cells and/or NK cells, in shorter times than previously and/or in whole blood or a component thereof. In some embodiments a lymphodepletion filter assembly is used before or after forming a reaction mixture where lymphocytes are contacted with recombinant retroviral particles in a closed system, to genetically modify the lymphocytes.

Disclosed are compositions of matter, cells, and methodologies for generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells with inhibited or absent NR2F6 activity. In one embodiment, a CAR possessing affinity to a tumor antigen is transfected onto T cells that possess reduced or absent NR2F6 activity, said reduction or absence of NR2F6 activity leading to increased production of cytokines associated with inhibition of tumor growth, metastasis or angiogenesis, and/or augmentation of tumor cytotoxicity. Inhibition of NR2F6 activity may be performed ex vivo on said T cells or in vivo by administration of small molecule inhibitors, siRNA, shRNA or gene editing. In some embodiments other immune cells are substituted for CAR-T cells.

Glioblastoma (GB) remains the most aggressive primary brain malignancy; brain metastasis, such as breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs), are also aggressive and are associated with poor prognosis. Adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified immune cells has emerged as a promising anti-cancer approach, yet the potential utility of CAR-engineered cells to treat brain cancers has not been explored. The present disclosure presents compostions and methods for using CAR expressing cells in the treatment of various cancers, including brain cancers such as GB and BCBMs.

The present invention relates to peptides, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated cytotoxic T cell (CTL) peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. The present invention relates to peptide sequences and their variants derived from HLA class I and class II molecules of human tumor cells that can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses.

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.