Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Novarx Corporation

Habib Fakhrai

Robert E Sobol

Oliver Dorigo

Fred Harrison Gage

Ivor Royston

Daniel L Shawler

Theodore Friedman

Farideh Fakhrai

A universal tumor vaccine bearing antigens characteristic of each of a wide variety of tumors that may afflict a patient being treated comprises at least two different allogeneic cells that display a multiplicity of tumor associated antigens and also have been modified to inhibit the expression of a natively produced immunosuppressive agent such as TGF&#x3b2;.

Universal tumor cell vaccine for anti cancer therapeutic and prophylactic utilization

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of genetically modified cells containing a genetic construct expressing a TGF&#x3b2; inhibitor effective to reduce expression of TGF&#x3b2;, where the genetically modified cells are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells or small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, and related methods.

Genetically modified cells expressing a TGF beta inhibitor, the cells being lung cancer cells

Genetically modified cells expressing a TGF&#x3b2; inhibitor, the cells being lung cancer cells

The invention provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of a cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer. The invention provides, for example, a method of stimulating an immune response in a subject by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to reduce or inhibit the expression of one or more immunosuppressive agents. The invention also provides a method of preventing or reducing the severity of cancer in a subject by stimulating the subject's immune response against the cancer by administering to the subject tumor cells that are substantially similar to the subject's cancer cells and that are genetically modified to prevent the expression of an immunosuppressive agents and, in combination with the genetically modified tumor cells, an immunostimulatory agent. The invention further provides compositions useful for practicing the claimed methods.

Compositions and methods for enhanced tumor cell immunity in vivo

A novel method of tumor immunotherapy is described comprising the genetic modification of cells resulting in the secretion of cytokine gene products to stimulate a patient's immune response to tumor antigens. In one embodiment, autologous fibroblasts genetically modified to secrete at least one cytokine gene product are utilized to immunize the patient in a formulation with tumor antigens at a site other than an active tumor site. In another embodiment, cells genetically modified to express at least one tumor antigen gene product and to secrete at least one cytokine gene product are utilized in a formulation to immunize the patient at a site other than an active tumor site.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Habib Fakhrai