The present invention relates to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) specific to ICAM-1 comprising I domain of the .sub.L subunit of human lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1). The invention particularly relates to CARs comprising human I domains having different affinities (1 mM to 1 nM Kd) to ICAM-1. CAR T cells comprising human I domain having a low affinity (1 to 200 M Kd) to ICAM-1 can avoid targeting healthy tissues with basal ICAM-1 expression while simultaneously exhibiting increased potency and long-term efficacy against tumor tissues with high ICAM-1 expression. The present invention also relates to an adoptive cell therapy method for treating cancer by administering the CAR-T cells comprising human I domain to a subject suffering from cancer, whereby the CAR T cells bind to the cancer cells overexpressing ICAM-1 and kill the cancer cells.

The present invention is directed to transduced T cells expressing at least 100,000 molecules of human somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), which improves PET/CT imaging sensitivity. The present invention is also directed to transduced T cells expressing SSTR2 and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). In one embodiment, the CAR is specific to human ICAM-1 and the CAR comprises a binding domain that is scFv of anti-human ICAM-1, or an I domain of the L subunit of human lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1. In another embodiment, the CAR is specific to human CD19, and the CAR comprises a binding domain that is scFv of anti-human CD19. The present invention is further directed to using the above transduced T cells for monitoring T cell distribution in a patient by PET/CT imaging and/or treating cancer.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying a truncal neo-antigen in a tumour from a subject which comprises the steps of: i) determining mutations present in a sample isolated from the tumour; and ii) identifying a truncal mutation which is a mutation present in essentially all tumour cells; and iii) identifying a truncal neo-antigen, which is an antigen encoded by a sequence which comprises the truncal mutation.

Provided herein is a method of expanding clinically-relevant quantities of polyclonal ?? T cells that have anti-tumor, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial reactivity. Polyclonal ?? T cells can target a variety of tumors, including solid tumors as well as other conditions, such as viral and bacterial infections.

The present invention relates to the discovery that increases in invariant NKT cell (iNKT) number and/or activity can reduce the incidence or severity of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. The invention accordingly features methods, kits, and compositions for the treatment of such metabolic disorders by administration of a composition capable of increasing iNKT activity.

The present invention refers to a cell suspension of autologous or allogeneic, preferably autologous, adult bone marrow-derived white blood cells, preferably derived from the crest of the ilium (or iliac crest), enriched for mononuclear cells, meaning more than 25% of the white blood cells (WBCs) present in the cell suspension are mononuclear cells, and comprising: A. Mononuclear cells (MNC) selected from the list comprising or consisting of: i. A population of Lymphocytes; ii. A population of Monocytes; and iii. A population of Hematopoietic stem cells expressing CD34;
and wherein the cell suspension further comprises: B. Granulocytes;
for use in the treatment or amelioration of lower extremity peripheral artery disease.

The present invention provides a method of preparing an anti-cancer composition comprising activated immune cells and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The present invention further provides a method of contacting immune cells obtained from an animal with an optimal combination of activating agents and with an immunogenic material to form the activated immune cells.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases, disorders or conditions associated with dysregulated expression of FSHR. The invention provides novel peptides that specifically bind to Follicle-stimulation hormone receptor (FSHR).

Cells, such a T-cells, are provided that comprise cytokine receptors having increased activity in response to their ligand. For example, cell can comprise IL-2 and/or IL-15 receptors having increased surface expression or signaling activity. Cells of the embodiments have a significant growth advantage in the presence of cytokines and can be used, e.g., for enhanced adoptive cell transfer therapies.

Disclosed herein are method of producing NK cells that include one or more heterologous nucleic acids. The methods include culturing a population of isolated NK cells in the presence of one or more cytokines to produce a population of activated NK cells. The population of activated NK cells are transduced with a viral vector comprising the one or more heterologous nucleic acids, for example by contacting the activated NK cells with viral particles including the viral vector. The resulting transduced NK cells are then cultured in the presence of one or more cytokines, and optionally in the presence of irradiated feeder cells, to produce a population of expanded transduced NK cells. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject with a disorder (such as a tumor or hyperproliferative disorder) by administering to the subject NK cells produced by the methods described herein.