The application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate adoptive cell therapy products and usage of iPSCs for screening potential toxicity of immune receptors are described herein. In some aspects, iPSCs and cells differentiated therefrom are provide which do not express a HLA gene (e.g., HLA-A).

The invention provides an isolated or purified T cell receptor (TCR) having antigenic specificity for a cancer antigen, e.g., a renal cell carcinoma antigen, wherein the TCR recognizes the cancer antigen in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent manner. Also provided are related polypeptides, proteins, nucleic acids, recombinant expression vectors, isolated host cells, populations of cells, antibodies, or antigen binding portions thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions. The invention further provides a method of detecting the presence of cancer in a host and a method of treating or preventing cancer in a host using the inventive TCRs or related materials.

Provided is a method for preparing and using cell ghosts with active factors as a synergist of a lymphocyte in vitro culture. The method for preparing cell ghosts comprises: washing a cell to obtain a washed cell; and cleaving the washed cell to obtain cell ghosts, wherein the cell has cytokines capable of promoting the proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes on their surface.

The present invention provides immunoresponsive cells, including T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and Natural Killer (NK) cells, expressing an antigen recognizing receptor and an inhibitory chimeric antigen receptor (iCAR). Methods of using the immunoresponsive cell include those for the treatment of neoplasia and other pathologies where an increase in an antigen-specific immune response is desired.

Compositions and methods are provided for in vitro culture of human solid tumors as 3-dimensional patient derived tumoroids (PDT) co-cultured with immune cells to recapitulate the cellular architecture of the tumor sample from which they were derived. The construct of cells is supplied with oxygen from a media including oxygen. Disclosed are methods of using the PDTs disclosed herein to discover and validate cancer therapeutics.

A composition includes genetically modified leukocytes, the modification including a deleted or silenced prostacyclin receptor PTGIR that confers resistance to the immunosuppressive effects of prostanoids.

The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.

Method for preparing armed immune cells, comprising: isolating a population of CD3.sup.+ immune cells from a human blood sample; and contacting the population of immune cells with a bi-specific antibody specific to CD3 and a tumor associated antigen (TAA) to produce armed immune cells, which display the bi-specific antibody on the cell surface.

Method for preparing armed immune cells, comprising: isolating a population of CD3.sup.+ immune cells from a human blood sample; and contacting the population of immune cells with a bi-specific antibody specific to CD3 and a tumor associated antigen (TAA) to produce armed immune cells, which display the bi-specific antibody on the cell surface.