Abstract: A TGF-? decoy receptor comprising a TGF-? binding region and a lipid anchor region is disclosed. Also disclosed is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising a TGF-? binding region. Also disclosed are compositions comprising, and methods using, the TGF-? decoy receptors and CARs.

Abstract: A method for predicting whether a patient will be a long-term survivor on treatment of a disease by adoptive cell transfer (ACT), is disclosed comprising: (i) analyzing a blood-derived sample obtained from the patient for one or more prognostic markers of long-term survival on treatment of a disease by ACT, and; (ii) based on the analysis of step (i), predicting whether the patient will be a long-term survivor on treatment of the disease by ACT. Also disclosed are methods for treating a patient by ACT, methods for selecting a patient for treatment by ACT, and methods for selecting a patient for treatment of a disease by ACT.

Abstract: A method of treating a cancer in a subject is disclosed, comprising: (1) isolating T cells from a subject; generating or expanding a population of T cells specific for a virus by a method comprising: stimulating T cells by culture in the presence of antigen presenting cells (APCs) presenting a peptide of the virus, wherein 10 to 25% of the media in which the cells are cultured is conditioned media obtained from a stimulation culture comprising T cells and APCs presenting a peptide of the virus; and (3) administering the generated or expanded population of T cells to a subject. Also disclosed are methods for generating or expanding a population of T cells specific for a virus.