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: Compounds that are specifically toxic to cancer stem cells are disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds that are specifically toxic to cancer stem cells are disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds that are specifically toxic to cancer stem cells are disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds that are specifically toxic to cancer stem cells are disclosed.

Abstract: Compounds that are specifically toxic to cancer stem cells are disclosed.

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 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 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of genetically modified cells containing a genetic construct expressing a TGF&bgr; inhibitor effective to reduce expression of TGF&bgr;, 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 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.

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: 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 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.