The invention provides methods of making immune effector cells (e.g., T cells, NK cells) that can be engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), compositions and reaction mixtures comprising the same, and methods of treatment using the same.

Provided are a CAR library used to screen scFvs that can be functional in CAR-T cells, and an scFv manufacturing method in which the CAR library is used. A chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) library of the present invention includes nucleic acids coding for first CARs. Each of the first CARs includes a first antigen-binding domain, a first transmembrane domain, and a first intracellular signaling domain. The first antigen-binding domain includes a first single-chain antibody (scFv) to be screened for the ability to bind to a target antigen. The first scFv includes a first heavy-chain variable region and a first light-chain variable region. The first heavy-chain variable region and the first light-chain variable region meet a predetermined condition.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for adoptive cell therapy comprising engineered immune cells that express a tumor antigen-targeted chimeric antigen receptor and a prodrug converting enzyme.

The present invention pertains to engineered T-cells, method for their preparation and their use as medicament, particularly for immunotherapy. The engineered T-cells of the invention are designed to express both a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) directed against at least one antigen expressed at the surface of a malignant or infected cell, and a secreted inhibitor of regulatory T-cells (Treg). Preferably, such secreted inhibitor is a peptide inhibitor of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3 (FoxP3), a specific factor involved into the differentiation of T-cells into regulatory T-cells. The engineered T-cells of the invention direct their immune activity towards specific malignant or infected cells, while at the same time will prevent neighbouring regulatory T-cells from modulating the immune response. The invention opens the way to standard and affordable adoptive immunotherapy strategies, especially for treating or preventing cancer, and bacterial or viral infections.

The present disclosure provides a heterodimeric, conditionally active chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), and a nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the CAR. The present disclosure provides cells genetically modified to produce the CAR. A CAR of the present disclosure can be used in various methods, which are also provided.

The present invention relates to a method of detecting a therapeutic cell expressing a dopamine transporter (DAT) at a central nervous system (CNS) site in a subject, which comprises the administration of a DAT tracer to the subject, wherein the presence of a therapeutic cell which expresses the DAT is determined.

Provided herein are engineered receptors that include an extracellular domain (ECD) from a TGF- receptor, a transmembrane domain (TMD), and that lack amino acid residues for signaling and phosphorylation, where such receptors are involved in cytokine signaling, for modulating TGF- signaling, for methods of modulating TGF- signaling, and for treating cancer using chimeric antigen receptors.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to novel scFv molecules that are useful for incorporation into novel chimeric antigen receptors with enhance anti-tumor activity. Further aspects relate to a polypeptide comprising a CAR comprising, in order from amino proximal to carboxy proximal end, a scFv, a transmembrane domain, a torsional linker, and a cytoplasmic region comprising a primary intracellular signaling domain, wherein the torsional linker comprises 1-12 alanine residues. Also described are nucleic acids comprising a sequence encoding a polypeptide of the disclosure, vectors, such as lentiviral vectors comprising the nucleic acids of the disclosure, cells comprising and/or expressing nucleic acids and/or polypeptides of the disclosure, and populations of cells comprising the cell embodiments of the disclosure. Also provided are methods of making cells that express a polypeptide and methods of treating patients with the polypeptides and cell compositions of the disclosure.

The present disclosure provides a population of CD4.sup.IL-10/CAR cells (autologous or allogeneic single-donor and allogeneic polydonor) generated by genetically modifying CD4.sup.+ T cells to express IL-10 and a chimeric antigen receptor. Further provided are methods of generating the CD4.sup.IL-10/CAR cells and methods of using the CD4.sup.IL-10/CAR cells for immune tolerization, treating GvHD, cell and organ transplantation, cancer, and other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

The present disclosure relates in some aspects to methods, compositions and uses involving immunotherapies, such as adoptive cell therapy, e.g., T cell therapy, and an immunomodulatory compound, such as a structural or functional analog or derivative of thalidomide and/or an inhibitor of E3-ubiquitin ligase. The provided methods, compositions and uses include those for combination therapies involving the administration or use of one or more immunomodulatory compounds in conjunction with a T cell therapy, such as a genetically engineered T cell therapy involving cells engineered with a recombinant receptor, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cells. Also provided are compositions, methods of administration to subjects, articles of manufacture and kits for use in the methods. In some aspects, features of the methods and cells provide for increased or improved activity, efficacy, persistence, expansion and/or proliferation of T cells for adoptive cell therapy or endogenous T cells recruited by immunotherapeutic agents.