The present disclosure provides signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-activated macrophages, compositions comprising STAT-activated macrophages, methods of making STAT-activated macrophages, and methods of treating diseases, e.g., cancer, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of STAT-activated macrophages.

The disclosure features amphiphilic ligand conjugates comprising a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)ligand and a lipid. The disclosure also features compositions and methods of using the same, for example, to stimulate proliferation of CAR expressing cells.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides methods and compositions for treating cancer (e.g., melanoma). It relates to chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that specifically target MDA (e.g., Trp1), and immunoresponsive cells comprising such CARs. The presently disclosed MDA-specific CARs have enhanced immune-activating properties, including anti-tumor activity.

Provided herein are methods for the production of activated CD26high T cells by co-stimulation with inducible coactivator (ICOS). Further provided are methods for treatment of cancer by administration of the of activated CD26high T cells as an adoptive T cell therapy.

The present disclosure provides methods of producing hybrid Th1/Th17 cells. Also provided herein are methods of treating cancer comprising targeting the CD38-mediated metabolic axis.

The present disclosure provides methods of producing hybrid Th1/Th17 cells. Also provided herein are methods of treating cancer comprising targeting the CD38-mediated metabolic axis.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for targeted treatment of cancer. The present disclosure provides chimeric antigen receptors and cells expressing such chimeric antigen receptors. In certain embodiments, engineered cells expressing the chimeric antigen receptors are specific for a low density cancer antigen or peptide in groove antigen.

Disclosed are methods of preparing an isolated population of dendritic cells, isolated populations of dendritic cells prepared by the methods, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the isolated population of dendritic cells. Also disclosed are methods of treating or preventing cancer using the isolated population of dendritic cells or pharmaceutical compositions.

Provided herein are methods for the production of activated CD26high T cells by co-stimulation with inducible coactivator (ICOS). Further provided are methods for treatment of cancer by administration of the of activated CD26high T cells as an adoptive T cell therapy.

We provide new methods of in vitro or in vivo enhancing the T-cell stimulatory capacity of human DCs and the use thereof in cancer vaccination. The method includes the introduction of different molecular adjuvants to human DCs by contacting or modifying them with mRNA or DNA molecule(s) encoding CD40L, and CD70 or constitutively active TI R4 (caTIR4).