The disclosure provides screening methods to identify small molecule compounds that can promote single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) proliferation, or alternatively inhibit proliferation by CTCs, and uses thereof, including as treatment options for cancer.

A method for coordinating the manufacturing of an expanded cell therapy product for a patient may include receiving a cell order request to expand the cell therapy product for the patient; generating a patient-specific identifier or cell order identifier associated with the cell order request; and initiating a process to expand the cell therapy product from at least some of a solid tumor obtained from the patient. If acceptance parameters for the expansion cell therapy product do not meet certain acceptance criteria at a second time point subsequent to a first time point in the expansion process, it is determined whether re-performing the expansion of the cell therapy product using the cell expansion technique is possible from the first time point based on the acceptance parameters at the second time point. If such re-performing the expansion is possible, patient treatment events that use the expanded cell therapy product are rescheduled.

Methods of isolating and purifying hematologic or non-hematologic tumor cells useful in a variety of assays and procedures, including tumor drug efficacy screening such as Microculture Kinetic assays, are disclosed herein. Further, Microculture Kinetic assays and methods suitable for comparing the relative efficacy of generic versus proprietary anti-cancer drugs are also disclosed.

Embodiments of the disclosure concern engineered T cell receptors that are specific for the survivin tumor antigen but do not have “on-target off tumor” toxicity. In particular embodiments, particular alpha and beta chains are utilized in engineered T cell receptors for cell therapy that have effective anti-tumor activity but lack fratricidal effects. Methods, compositions, and kits are provided herein.

The present invention discloses a method for establishing a colorectal cancer p73 reporter gene cell line, specifically including: first designing a site-specific sgRNA sequence of a p73 gene and cloning same into a plasmid PX459; integrating a homologous recombination sequence of the p73 gene and a green fluorescent protein DNA fragment (EGFP), and transforming the plasmid and the integrated fragment together into a colorectal cancer cell line HCT116 by electroporation; performing signal cell screening through a flow cytometer to obtain EGFP-expressing cells, and amplifying a monoclonal cell line; and identifying a positive p73 reporter gene cell line through PCR identification and Western blot, among screened EGFP-expressing cell lines. The colorectal cancer cell line p73 gene and the EGFP are co-expressed, and the expression level of the EGFP is highly consistent with that of the p73 gene. Therefore, the expression level of the p73 gene can be accurately determined by detecting changes in the expression level of the EGFP. The method for establishing the cell line in the present invention is simple, easy to implement, high in efficiency and precise in gene site positioning.

Methods of generating a population of tumor cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) isolated from fluid from a subject. The methods involve collecting a fluid sample containing the tumor cells from the subject, and culturing the tumor cells in the fluid sample in a three-dimensional cell culture, wherein the three-dimensional cell culture comprises at least one inhibitor of Rho-kinase to generate the population of CTCs. If the fluid is whole blood or contains blood, the method may also involve subjecting the fluid sample to density gradient separation to separate the tumor cells from the fluid prior to culturing. In addition, methods of identifying a candidate treatment for a subject having a condition marked by the presence of tumor cells, methods of monitoring in a subject the persistence, regression, or progression of a disease or condition marked by the presence of tumor cells, and methods of generating a cell line of tumor cells.

The present disclosure provides a substrate for cell culture. Systems comprising the substrate, and methods for using and manufacturing the substrate are also disclosed herein.

The beta 2 subunit of mouse hemoglobin (HBB2) has been identified as soluble factor from mouse lungs that exhibits cytostatic/cytotoxic activity against neuroblastoma lung micrometastases. The beta subunit of human hemoglobin (HBB) has been found to have similar activity. Methods of using these proteins and fragments thereof in the treatment of cancer and inhibition of metastasis are provided, along with methods of screening a subject for micrometastases by detecting HBB in a biological sample.

Markers of acute myeloid leukemia stem cells (AMLSC) are identified. The markers are differentially expressed in comparison with normal counterpart cells, and are useful as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

ID Protein targeted cancer immunotherapy. The invention provides a cell-based attenuated live tumor cell vaccine that safely produces broad cellular tumor-specific immunity, protects against tumor formation in prophylactic tumor models, and in combination with the clinically relevant immune modulator s such as antibodies to CTLA-4 or antibodies to PD-L1 can destroy established tumors in mammals.