Duke University

Argos Therapeutics, Inc.

Eli Gilboa

Smita K Nair

David J Boczkowski

Robert Storms

Clayton A Smith

Disclosed are cells and methods for treating or preventing tumor formation or infections with pathogens in a patient. The cells of the invention are antigen-presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells or macrophage) that have been loaded with RNA derived from tumors or pathogens. By administering the RNA-loaded antigen-presenting cells to a patient, tumor formation or pathogen infections can be treated or prevented. Alternatively, the RNA-loaded cells can be used as stimulator cells in the ex vivo expansion of CTL. Such CTL can then be used in a variation of conventional adoptive immunotherapy techniques.

Methods for treating cancers and pathogen infections using antigen-presenting cells loaded with RNA

A method for eliciting an immune response to an antigen in a subject via (a) loading isolated antigen presenting cells with an antigen ex vivo; and (b) administering the antigen presenting cells to a subject at a pre-treated site.

In situ maturation of dendritic cells

The present invention relates to cells and methods for treating or preventing tumor formation or infections with pathogens in a patient. The cells of the invention are antigen-presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells or macrophage) that have been loaded with RNA derived from tumors or pathogens. By administering the RNA-loaded antigen-presenting cells to a patient, tumor formation or pathogen infections can be treated or prevented. Alternatively, the RNA-loaded cells can be used as stimulator cells in the ex vivo expansion of CTL. Such CTL can then be used in a variation of conventional adoptive immunotherapy techniques.

The present invention relates, in general, to RNA-loaded antigen presenting cells and, in particular, to methods for treating or preventing tumor formation or pathogen infection in a patient. The invention further relates to methods of monitoring T-cell stimulation and to methods of antigen discovery.

RNA-loaded antigen presenting cells

The present invention relates to hematopoietic stem cells and to methods of treating diseases and disorders, including genetic diseases and disorders and infectious diseases, using same. The invention additionally relates to methods of identifying agents that promote growth, engraftment or differentiation of stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells

Method of identifying tumor antigens that elicit a T-cell response

Methods for treating cancers and pathogen infections using

Disclosed is a method for presenting an antigen in the form of a peptide on the surface of a cell. The method involves inhibiting the activity of an MHC class I pathway-associated component (e.g., a TAP protein or a proteasome or its components) in a cell and contacting the cell with an antigenic peptide to produce a potent antigen presenting cell. The antigen presenting cells of the invention can be administered to a mammal in a method of treating or preventing cancer or infection with a pathogen (e.g., a bacterium or virus). If desired, the antigen presenting cells can be used to stimulate CTL proliferation in vitro, and the resulting effector cells can subsequently be administered to a mammal in a method of therapy.

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Durham, NC, United States of America

Eli Gilboa