Masked chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructs comprising an extracellular antigen binding domain specific tyrosine-protein kinase-like 7 (PTK7), which is linked to a mask peptide that blocks binding of masked CAR from binding to PTK7. Also provided herein are genetically engineered T cells expressing a masked CAR specific to PTK7 and therapeutic uses thereof.

The invention provides methods and compositions for use in treating cancer, which advantageously may be achieved by targeting of the tumor microenvironment.

The present invention relates to compositions, methods, uses and kits for combination therapies involving immunotherapies, such as adaptive cell therapy, e.g., T cell therapy, and an oncolytic virus (particularly parvovirus H-1), for treating subjects with cancer. The T cell therapy includes cells that express recombinant receptors such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). In some embodiments, the cancer is a solid tumor or a hematological malignancy.

The present invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising: (i) a B cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-binding domain which comprises at least part of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL); (ii) a spacer domain (iii) a transmembrane domain; and (iv) an intracellular T cell signaling domain. The invention also provides the use of such a T-cell expressing such a CAR in the treatment of plasma-cell mediated diseases, such as multiple myeloma.

An immunoresponsive cell, such as a T-cell expressing (i) a second generation chimeric antigen receptor comprising: (a) a signalling region; (b) a co-stimulatory signalling region; (c) a transmembrane domain; and (d) a binding element that specifically interacts with a first epitope on a target antigen; and (ii) a chimeric costimulatory receptor comprising (e) a co-stimulatory signalling region which is different to that of (b); (f) a transmembrane domain; and g) a binding element that specifically interacts with a second epitope on a target antigen.

This arrangement is referred to as parallel chimeric activating receptors (pCAR). Cells of this type are useful in therapy, and kits and methods for using them as well as methods for preparing them are described and claimed.

The inventors explored in an allogeneic situation the regulatory potential of Mucosal-Associated Invariant T cells (MAIT cells), a population of unconventional T cells that exhibit potent antibacterial activity, expressing a semi-invariant TCR which recognizes vitamin B2 derivatives of microbial origin presented by the MR1 molecule. In particular, the inventors used i) an allogenic reaction model in vitro (mixed lymphocyte reaction, MLR) and ii) murine model of xenogeneic aGvHD They first verified that human MAIT cells do not proliferate in response to allogeneic stimulation in vitro (MLR) or in vivo (immunodeficient mice) alone but require for their expansion both an inflammatory environment and TCR ligation by its ligand. In contrast, MAIT cells are able to inhibit the proliferation of allospecific LT in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the adoptive transfer of MAIT cells in a mouse model of xeno-GVHD resulted in a delay in early or late GvHD development. Altogether, these data describe a new regulatory function of MAIT cells in an allogeneic context, allowing us to consider their use in cell therapy to limit GvHD.

This disclosure relates to therapeutics containing IL-37, chimeric antigen receptors, nucleic acids, or vectors encoding the same. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to methods of treating cancer comprising administering a nucleic acid or vector encoding interleukin-37 to a subject diagnosed with cancer and administering T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor to the subject. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to methods of treating cancer comprising administering a nucleic acid or vector encoding interleukin-37 and a chimeric antigen receptor to a subject diagnosed with cancer.

The present disclosure generally relates to, inter alia, a new class of receptors engineered to modulate transcriptional regulation in a ligand-dependent manner. Particularly, the new receptors, even though derived from Notch, do not require the Notch negative regulatory regions previously believed to be essential for the functioning of the receptors. In addition, the new receptors described herein incorporate an extracellular oligomerization domain to promote oligomer formation of the chimeric receptors. The disclosure also provides compositions and methods useful for producing such receptors, nucleic acids encoding same, host cells genetically modified with the nucleic acids, as well as methods for modulating an activity of a cell and/or for the treatment of various health conditions such as cancers.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for expanding T cells or tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in vitro. K562 feeder cells engineered to express a costimulatory molecule (e.g., 41BB ligand (41BBL)) and either interleukin 21 (IL21) or interleukin 7 (IL7) can be used in a rapid expansion protocol (REP) step to expand the T cells or TILs. Thus, provided herein is a culture comprising T-cells or TILs and modified K562 feeder cells. The T cells can be modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or a T cell receptor (TCR) or the TILs can be modified to express membrane-bound IL15 (mbIL15). The T cells or TILs can be expanded in vitro using aREP without the use of exogenous interleukin 2 (IL2), and the expanded cells can be used in adoptive cell therapy for treatment of cancer without concomitant use of an exogenous cytokine such as IL2.

A family of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) containing a CD123 specific scFv was developed to target different epitopes on CD123. In some embodiments, such a CD123 chimeric antigen receptor (CD123CAR) gene includes an anti-CD123 scFv region fused in frame to a modified IgG4 hinge region comprising an S228P substitution, an L235E substitution, and optionally an N297Q substitution; a costimulatory signaling domain; and a T cell receptor (TCR) zeta chain signaling domain. When expressed in healthy donor T cells (CD4/CD8), the CD123CARs redirect T cell specificity and mediated potent effector activity against CD123+ cell lines as well as primary AML patient samples. Further, T cells obtained from patients with active AML can be modified to express CD123CAR genes and are able to lyse autologous AML blasts in vitro. Finally, a single dose of 5.0?10.sup.6 CAR123 T cells results in significantly delayed leukemic progression in mice. These results suggest that CD123CAR-transduced T cells may be used as an immunotherapy for the treatment of high risk AML.