Abstract: Methods, compositions and compounds that include a nucleic acid comprising a sequence consisting essentially of polyT/polyU and an agent that inhibits the production or activity of an immunosuppressive compound for treating tumors are described.

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: 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 invention provides a composition for stimulating an immune response in a patient having different types of cancer including those having adenocarcinoma comprising a combination of allogeneic tumor cells and/or tumor stem cells that are selected on the basis of secreting at least one immunosuppressive agent, e.g., TGF-?, and that are genetically modified to reduce or inhibit the expression of said at least one immunosuppressive agent, e.g., TGF-?, and that collectively express a spectrum of tumor associated antigens representative of colon, breast, lung, prostate, pancreas, kidney, endometrium, cervix, ovary, thyroid, and other glandular tissue carcinomas, as well as squamous, melanoma, central nervous system, and lymphomas and a physiologically acceptable carrier. The adenocarcinoma can be, for example, colon, breast, lung, prostate, pancreas, kidney, endometrium, cervix, ovary, thyroid, or other glandular tissue, as well as squamous, melanoma, central nervous system, and lymphomas.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition for stimulating an immune response in a patient having an adenocarcinoma, including a patient having colorectal cancer, containing allogeneic tumor cells and a physiologically acceptable carrier. The allogeneic tumor cells can be SW620, COLO 205, or SW403 cells. The invention composition can also contain an allogeneic cell expressing a cytokine. An allogeneic tumor cell can additionally express CD80. The invention additionally provides a method of stimulating an immune response in a patient having an adenocarcinoma, including a patient having colorectal cancer, by administering to the patient one or more allogeneic tumor cells, wherein the allogeneic cell stimulates an immune response to autologous tumor cells in the patient.