Abstract: Provided herein are methods for producing engineered T cells that express a recombinant receptor, such as for use in cell therapy. In some aspects, the provided methods include one or more steps for incubating the cells under stimulating conditions, introducing a recombinant polypeptide to the cells through transduction or transfection, and/or cultivating the cells under conditions that promote proliferation and/or expansion, in which one or more steps is carried out in the presence of an agent that inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity. In some aspects, cultivation is performed in the presence of an agent that inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity. In some aspects, the provided methods produce genetically engineered T cells with improved persistence and/or anti-tumor activity in vivo.

Abstract: Provided are cells, e.g., engineered immune cells, expressing recombinant or engineered molecules involved in metabolic pathways, such as those that promote or inhibit one or more metabolic steps, reactions, or pathways, for example, in T cells. Such molecules include those that induce or repress a particular functional outcome or metabolic event, for example, one that promotes differentiation or reprogramming into a particular phenotypic state, such as memory, long-lived, activated or activatable, non-exhausted, phenotype or stem-like phenotype. The cells generally further express an immune receptor, such as an antigen receptor, which may be an engineered receptor, such as a CAR or recombinant TCR, or may be a natural immune receptor. Also provided are cells, such as T cells, expressing such molecules and combinations thereof, compositions comprising such cells, nucleic acids such as vectors encoding the same, and methods of administration to subjects in adoptive cell therapy.

Abstract: Provided are chimeric receptors for engineering cells for adoptive therapy, including T cells, and the genetically engineered cells. In some embodiments, the chimeric receptors, such as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) are modified in a junction region by one or more amino acid modifications such that peptide fragments of such region exhibit a lower binding affinity for a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and/or the region exhibits reduced immunogenicity, including following administration to a subject. In some aspects, also provided are methods and compositions for engineering and producing cells expressing such chimeric receptors, compositions containing the cells, and method for their administration to subjects. In some embodiments, features of the chimeric receptors and engineered cells containing the chimeric receptors result in methods that provide for increased or improved activity, efficacy and/or persistence.

Abstract: Provided are cells, e.g., engineered immune cells, expressing recombinant or engineered molecules involved in metabolic pathways, such as those that promote or inhibit one or more metabolic steps, reactions, or pathways, for example, in T cells. Such molecules include those that induce or repress a particular functional outcome or metabolic event, for example, one that promotes differentiation or reprogramming into a particular phenotypic state, such as memory, long-lived, activated or activatable, non-exhausted, phenotype or stem-like phenotype. The cells generally further express an immune receptor, such as an antigen receptor, which may be an engineered receptor, such as a CAR or recombinant TCR, or may be a natural immune receptor. Also provided are cells, such as T cells, expressing such molecules and combinations thereof, compositions comprising such cells, nucleic acids such as vectors encoding the same, and methods of administration to subjects in adoptive cell therapy.

Abstract: Provided are chimeric receptors for engineering cells for adoptive therapy, including T cells, and the genetically engineered cells. In some aspects, also provided are methods and compositions for engineering and producing the cells, compositions containing the cells, and method for their administration to subjects. In some embodiments, the cells, such as T cells, contain genetically engineered antigen receptors that specifically bind to antigens, such as a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), and which contain an intracellular signaling domain capable of inducing TRAF6-mediated signaling. In some embodiments, features of the cells and methods provide for increased or improved activity, efficacy and/or persistence.