Abstract: Recombinant adenoviruses expressing the extracellular (EC) and transmembrane (TM) domains of human HER2 (HER2ECTM) are described. The recombinant adenoviruses express a chimeric fiber protein having the adenovirus type 35 (Ad5) shaft and knob domains, which facilitates transduction of human dendritic cells by the recombinant HER2ECTM expressing adenovirus. Compositions that include dendritic cells transduced by the recombinant adenovirus and their use for treating HER-positive tumors is described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compound of the formula (I) or (II): wherein a f are as described herein. The compounds are useful in the activation of Type II NKT cells and in treating cancer.

Abstract: Immunogenic T cell receptor ? alternate reading frame protein (TARP) peptide compositions that include multiple epitopes of the TARP protein are described. The disclosed compositions can be used for the treatment of TARP-expressing cancers, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer and mesothelioma. In some embodiments, the TARP peptide compositions disclosed herein include sets of overlapping TARP peptides that each have a length of about 15 to about 25 amino acids, and comprise about 5 to about 15 amino acids that are identical to at least another overlapping peptide in the set. In particular examples, the combination of the overlapping TARP peptides in the set encompasses the complete amino acid sequence of human TARP. The multi-epitope peptide compositions described herein include both CD4 and CD8 epitopes, a feature that is important for eliciting CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell, as well as humoral, immune responses.

Abstract: Recombinant adenoviruses expressing the extracellular (EC) and transmembrane (TM) domains of human HER2 (HER2ECTM) are described. The recombinant adenoviruses express a chimeric fiber protein having the adenovirus type 35 (Ad5) shaft and knob domains, which facilitates transduction of human dendritic cells by the recombinant HER2ECTM expressing adenovirus. Compositions that include dendritic cells transduced by the recombinant adenovirus and their use for treating HER-positive tumors is described.

Abstract: ?-mannosylceramides or salts or solvates thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a Type I NKT cell agonist in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of ?-galactosylceramide or a salt or a solvate thereof, and/or at least one or more T-cell co-stimulatory molecules, disclosed. Compositions comprising ?-mannosylceramide, as well as methods of treatment of tumors are also provided.

Abstract: Immunogenic T cell receptor ? alternate reading frame protein (TARP) peptide compositions that include multiple epitopes of the TARP protein are described. The disclosed compositions can be used for the treatment of TARP-expressing cancers, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer and mesothelioma. In some embodiments, the TARP peptide compositions disclosed herein include sets of overlapping TARP peptides that each have a length of about 15 to about 25 amino acids, and comprise about 5 to about 15 amino acids that are identical to at least another overlapping peptide in the set. In particular examples, the combination of the overlapping TARP peptides in the set encompasses the complete amino acid sequence of human TARP. The multi-epitope peptide compositions described herein include both CD4 and CD8 epitopes, a feature that is important for eliciting CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell, as well as humoral, immune responses.

Abstract: POTE has recently been identified as a tumor antigen expressed in a variety of human cancers, including colon, ovarian, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer. Described herein are immunogenic POTE polypeptides, including modified POTE polypeptides, that bind MHC class I molecules. The immunogenic POTE polypeptides are capable of inducing an immune response against POTE-expressing tumor cells. Thus, provided herein is a method of eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as a subject having a type of cancer that expresses POTE.

Abstract: ?-mannosylceramides or salts or solvates thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a Type I NKT cell agonist in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of ?-galactosylceramide or a salt or a solvate thereof, and/or at least one or more T-cell co-stimulatory molecules, disclosed. Compositions comprising ?-mannosylceramide, as well as methods of treatment of tumors are also provided.

Abstract: ?-mannosylceramides or salts or solvates thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a Type I NKT cell agonist in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of ?-galactosylceramide or a salt or a solvate thereof, and/or at least one or more T-cell co-stimulatory molecules, disclosed. Compositions comprising ?-mannosylceramide, as well as methods of treatment of tumors are also provided.

Abstract: POTE has recently been identified as a tumor antigen expressed in a variety of human cancers, including colon, ovarian, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer. Described herein are immunogenic POTE polypeptides, including modified POTE polypeptides, that bind MHC class I molecules. The immunogenic POTE polypeptides are capable of inducing an immune response against POTE-expressing tumor cells. Thus, provided herein is a method of eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as a subject having a type of cancer that expresses POTE.

Abstract: ?-mannosylceramides or salts or solvates thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a Type I NKT cell agonist in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of ?-galactosylceramide or a salt or a solvate thereof, and/or at least one or more T-cell co-stimulatory molecules, disclosed. Compositions comprising ?-mannosylceramide, as well as methods of treatment of tumors are also provided.

Abstract: POTE has recently been identified as a tumor antigen expressed in a variety of human cancers, including colon, ovarian, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer. Described herein are immunogenic POTE polypeptides, including modified POTE polypeptides, that bind MHC class I molecules. The immunogenic POTE polypeptides are capable of inducing an immune response against POTE-expressing tumor cells. Thus, provided herein is a method of eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as a subject having a type of cancer that expresses POTE.

Abstract: ?-mannosylceramides or salts or solvates thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a Type I NKT cell agonist in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of ?-galactosylceramide or a salt or a solvate thereof, and/or at least one or more T-cell co-stimulatory molecules, disclosed. Compositions comprising ?-mannosylceramide, as well as methods of treatment of tumors are also provided.

Abstract: XAGE-1 is a gene expressed in a number of important human cancers, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, and melanoma. It has now been discovered that peptides of fifty or fewer amino acids comprising the sequence X1X2X3PSAPSPX4 (SEQ ID NO:5), where X1 is any amino acid and is preferably G or Y; X2 is selected from the group consisting of L, M, A, I, V, and T, with L and M being preferred; X3 is a hydrophobic residue, M or A; and X4 is V, M, L, A, I, or T, and is preferably V, bind to the HLA-A2 MHC class I molecule, and can be used to raise immune responses to XAGE-1-expressing cancers. In some embodiments, the P at position 7, the S at position 8, or the P at position 9, can be omitted to create a 9 amino acid peptide.

Abstract: POTE has recently been identified as a tumor antigen expressed in a variety of human cancers, including colon, ovarian, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer. Described herein are immunogenic POTE polypeptides, including modified POTE polypeptides, that bind MHC class I molecules. The immunogenic POTE polypeptides are capable of inducing an immune response against POTE-expressing tumor cells. Thus, provided herein is a method of eliciting an immune response in a subject, such as a subject having a type of cancer that expresses POTE.

Abstract: ?-mannosylceramides or salts or solvates thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a Type I NKT cell agonist in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of ?-galactosylceramide or a salt or a solvate thereof, and/or at least one or more T-cell co-stimulatory molecules, disclosed. Compositions comprising ?-mannosylceramide, as well as methods of treatment of tumors are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating or preventing cancer involving the use of a TNF-alpha antagonist, an IL-13R?2 antagonist, and/or a AP-I antagonist.

Abstract: Methods are provided herein for synergistically affecting tumor growth in a subject, involving the administration to the subject of an agent that blocks the TGF-? signaling pathway in combination with an immunogenic agent. The agent that blocks the TGF-? signaling pathway is believed to inhibit the immunosuppressive effects of TGF-?, while the immunogenic agent is believed to enhance an immune response. Surprisingly, the combination of such elements produces a synergistic effect. In one embodiment, the administration of the 1D11.16 anti-TGF-? antibody in combination with the human papilloma virus E7(49-57) peptide enhances tumor regression and tumor-specific CTL response in the subject. In another embodiment, the administration of the 1D11.16 anti-TGF-? antibody in combination with irradiated CT26 cells enhances tumor regression in the subject.

Abstract: Methods are provided herein to prevent a tumor recurrence in a subject, involving administering to the subject an agent that blocks the TGF-? signaling pathway. In one embodiment, the agent inhibits the immunosuppressive effects of TGF-?. Also provided is a method of enhancing an immune respond in a subject to inhibit recurrence of a tumor by administering an agent which blocks the TGF-? signaling pathway. A method of enhancing the activity of an immune cell to inhibit recurrence of a tumor by contacting a TGF-? receptor-expressing cell with an agent which blocks the TGF-? signaling pathway is also provided, as are methods of screening for an agent that inhibits or measurably reduces the recurrence of a tumor.