Abstract: The invention is directed to a method to predict individuals who are likely to respond to immunotherapy by detecting enhanced levels of antibodies in the plasma or serum wherein the antibodies are characteristic of the response or non-response of pretested populations of subjects.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A universal vaccine containing a mixture of allogeneic cell lines, including tumor stem cells, effective against tumors regardless of type is disclosed. The cell lines are also modified to prevent interference with the immune response by any immunosuppressive agents they may secrete.

Abstract: 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?.

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

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