Abstract: Antibody derivatives are provided as binding partners. The binding partners bind to a one or a combination of antigens that include antigens present CD24, CD105 (endoglin), CD79 Beta (CD79b), and an antigen present in a CD3 T cell co-receptor. The antibody derivatives include single chain variable fragments (scFvs), Bi-specific T-cell engagers (BiTEs). Also provided are modified cells that express the binding partners, modified cells that secrete the binding partners, expression vectors that encode the binding partners, and methods of using the binding partners for treatment of a variety of cancers, autoimmune diseases, and modification of immune responses mounted to transplanted organs.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for prophylaxis and/or therapy of a variety of cancers which express a NY-ESO-1 antigen. Included are recombinant T cell receptors (TCRs), polynucleotides encoding them, expression vectors that include the polynucleotides, and cells into which the polynucleotides have been introduced to produce modified cells, including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer T cells, ?? T cells, and progenitor cells, such as haematopoietic stem cells. The modified cells are capable of direct recognition of a cancer cell expressing a NY-ESO-1 antigen by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted binding of the TCR to the NY-ESO-1 antigen expressed by the cancer cell without presentation of the antigen by antigen presenting cells. In embodiments, the NY-ESO-1 antigen is displayed by the tumor cells. Also included is a method for prophylaxis and/or therapy of cancer by administering modified cells that express a recombinant TCR.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for prophylaxis and/or therapy of a variety of cancers which express a NY-ESO-1 antigen. Included are recombinant T cell receptors (TCRs), polynucleotides encoding them, expression vectors that include the polynucleotides, and cells into which the polynucleotides have been introduced to produce modified cells, including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer T cells, ?? T cells, and progenitor cells, such as haematopoietic stem cells. The modified cells are capable of direct recognition of a cancer cell expressing a NY-ESO-1 antigen by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted binding of the TCR to the NY-ESO-1 antigen expressed by the cancer cell without presentation of the antigen by antigen presenting cells. In embodiments, the NY-ESO-1 antigen is displayed by the tumor cells. Also included is a method for prophylaxis and/or therapy of cancer by administering modified cells that express a recombinant TCR.

Abstract: Provided are modified cancer cells that are modified to co-express class II trans-activator (CIITA), and an immuno-stimulatory molecule. The immuno-stimulatory molecule is OX-40-ligand or 4-1BB-Ligand. Methods of making the cells are provided by introducing polynucleotides encoding the CIITA and the immune-stimulatory molecule into cancer cells. Methods of stimulating humoral and cell-mediated immune responses by administering the modified cancer cells, or polynucleotides encoding the CIITA and immune-stimulatory molecules are also provided. These approaches can be used to stimulate an immune response against any of a wide variety of cancer antigens.

Abstract: Provided are methods, compositions, recombinant DNA molecules, and kits for cloning T cell receptors (TCRs). The methods facilitate construction of TCR expression libraries from biological samples containing antigen-specific T cells, including but not limited to tumor biopsies, including frozen tumor biopsies. Peripheral T cells that were engineered with library-derived TCR genes show potent therapeutic anti-tumor effects. The method can be performed using any sample that contains T cells, and can be performed with oligoclonal populations of T cells, such as T cells that have infiltrated a tumor. Primer combinations for first strand cDNA synthesis, second strand cDNA synthesis, and for cloning a plurality of distinct TCR ? and TCR ? chains into a plurality of vectors are provided. Cells containing the vectors are provided, as are kits for use in rapid cloning of the TCR ? and TCR ? chains.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for prophylaxis and/or therapy of a variety of cancers which express a NY-ESO-1 antigen. Included are recombinant T cell receptors (TCRs), polynucleotides encoding them, expression vectors that include the polynucleotides, and cells into which the polynucleotides have been introduced to produce modified cells, including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer T cells, ?? T cells, and progenitor cells, such as haematopoietic stem cells. The modified cells are capable of direct recognition of a cancer cell expressing a NY-ESO-1 antigen by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted binding of the TCR to the NY-ESO-1 antigen expressed by the cancer cell without presentation of the antigen by antigen presenting cells. In embodiments, the NY-ESO-1 antigen is displayed by the tumor cells. Also included is a method for prophylaxis and/or therapy of cancer by administering modified cells that express a recombinant TCR.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for prophylaxis and/or therapy of a variety of cancers which express a NY-ESO-1 antigen. Included are recombinant T cell receptors (TCRs), polynucleotides encoding them, expression vectors that include the polynucleotides, and cells into which the polynucleotides have been introduced to produce modified cells, including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer T cells, ?? T cells, and progenitor cells, such as haematopoietic stem cells. The modified cells are capable of direct recognition of a cancer cell expressing a NY-ESO-1 antigen by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted binding of the TCR to the NY-ESO-1 antigen expressed by the cancer cell without presentation of the antigen by antigen presenting cells. In embodiments, the NY-ESO-1 antigen is displayed by the tumor cells. Also included is a method for prophylaxis and/or therapy of cancer by administering modified cells that express a recombinant TCR.

Abstract: Provided is a method for enhancing the efficacy of cancer vaccines, such as tumor vaccines. The method involves administering to an individual who is in need of therapy for a tumor an anti-cancer agent and an agent that causes depletion of myeloid cells and/or inhibits recruitment of myeloid cells to the tumor. The effect of the anti-cancer agent on the tumor is greater relative to the effect of the anti-cancer agent in the absence of the anti-myeloid cell agent. Also provided is a method for identifying candidates for the therapy. This approach involves determining if an individual has a tumor characterized by undesirable myeloid cell proliferation and/or tumor infiltration and/or myeloid cell recruitment to the tumor, and if such determination is made, designating the individual as a candidate for the therapy. In one embodiment, the identification of the individual as such a candidate is followed by the therapeutic approach.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for prophylaxis and/or therapy of a variety of cancers which express a NY-ESO-1 antigen. Included are recombinant T cell receptors (TCRs), polynucleotides encoding them, expression vectors that include the polynucleotides, and cells into which the polynucleotides have been introduced to produce modified cells, including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer T cells, ?? T cells, and progenitor cells, such as haematopoietic stem cells. The modified cells are capable of direct recognition of a cancer cell expressing a NY-ESO-1 antigen by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted binding of the TCR to the NY-ESO-1 antigen expressed by the cancer cell without presentation of the antigen by antigen presenting cells. In embodiments, the NY-ESO-1 antigen is displayed by the tumor cells. Also included is a method for prophylaxis and/or therapy of cancer by administering modified cells that express a recombinant TCR.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery of cancer antigens associated with ovarian cancer. In further aspects, the invention relates to methods, compositions and kits for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly ovarian and pancreatic cancers.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a patient has a particular type of cancer which comprises: a. obtaining an ascites, abnormal cell cellular fluid or serum sample from the patient; b. diluting the sample with D2O; c. subjecting the sample to 1HNMR to obtain a series of free induction decay outputs (FID's); d. mathematically modifying the data to obtain 1HNMR spectra; e. correcting the 1HNMR spectra for phase and baseline distortions; f. data reducing the corrected 1HNMR spectra to obtain a plurality of integral spectral segments; g. compensating for effects of variation in suppression of water resonance; h. normalizing the resulting data to total spectral area to obtain normalized 1HNMR spectra; i. subjecting the normalized 1HNMR spectra to principal component analysis to obtain normalized data; and j.