Abstract: Provided herein are CD70-binding proteins comprising a CD70-binding domain and a transmembrane domain, engineered immune cells comprising the CD70-binding proteins, and methods of making and using the same. Also provided herein are engineered immune cells e.g. CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cells for administration to patients to treat cancer (e.g., solid tumors and hematologic tumors) and other unwanted conditions. The cells are engineered to functionally express a first antigen binding molecule e.g. a CD70 CAR and a second antigen binding molecule e.g. a second CAR that binds a target molecule characteristic of the cancer or other disease or unwanted condition. The cells may be further engineered to reduce the functional expression level of one or more of TRAC, CD52 and CD70. Also provided are methods of making and using the engineered cells, compositions and kits comprising them, and methods of treating by administering them.

Abstract: Provided herein are CD70-binding proteins comprising a CD70-binding domain and a transmembrane domain, engineered immune cells comprising the CD70-binding proteins, and methods of making and using the same. Also provided herein are engineered immune cells e.g. CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cells for administration to patients to treat cancer (e.g., solid tumors and hematologic tumors) and other unwanted conditions. The cells are engineered to functionally express a first antigen binding molecule e.g. a CD70 CAR and a second antigen binding molecule e.g. a second CAR that binds a target molecule characteristic of the cancer or other disease or unwanted condition. The cells may be further engineered to reduce the functional expression level of one or more of TRAC, CD52 and CD70. Also provided are methods of making and using the engineered cells, compositions and kits comprising them, and methods of treating by administering them.

Abstract: Provided herein are CD70-binding proteins comprising a CD70-binding domain and a transmembrane domain, engineered immune cells comprising the CD70-binding proteins, and methods of making and using the same. Also provided herein are engineered immune cells e.g. CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cells for administration to patients to treat cancer (e.g., solid tumors and hematologic tumors) and other unwanted conditions. The cells are engineered to functionally express a first antigen binding molecule e.g. a CD70 CAR and a second antigen binding molecule e.g. a second CAR that binds a target molecule characteristic of the cancer or other disease or unwanted condition. The cells may be further engineered to reduce the functional expression level of one or more of TRAC, CD52 and CD70. Also provided are methods of making and using the engineered cells, compositions and kits comprising them, and methods of treating by administering them.

Abstract: Provided herein are DLL3 binding agents and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) comprising a DLL3 binding molecule that specifically binds to DLL3; and immune cells comprising these DLL3-specific CARs, e.g., CAR-T cells. Also provided are methods of making and using DLL3-specific CARs, and immune cells comprising DLL3-specific CARs.

Abstract: Provided herein are engineered immune cells and populations thereof for administration to patients to treat cancer (e.g., solid tumors or liquid tumors) and other conditions. The cells are engineered to functionally express a reduced level of one or more of RFX5, NLRC5, TAP2, ?2m, TRAC, RFXAP, CIITA and RFXANK. The cells optionally are further engineered to express one or more than one additional protein such as an antigen binding protein (e.g., a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or T cell receptor) to target tumor cells or other damaged cells in the patient and/or to express other genes at a reduced level. Also provided are methods of making and using the engineered cells, compositions and kits comprising them, and methods of treating by administering the cells and the compositions.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, expression vectors and engineered immune cells for improving therapies that entail the administration of allogeneic cells to a patient. An immune cell, e.g., a T cell, modified to comprise and/or express FasL protein or a FasL protein derivative from, for example, an expression vector comprising a polynucleotide that encodes FasL protein or a FasL protein derivative, and to express FasR at a reduced level, and further modified to comprise and/or express an antigen binding protein e.g., a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). An improved method of CAR T-cell therapy that comprises administering the improved immune cells, and compositions that comprise the improved immune cells. Methods of improving persistence of administered cells and reducing activation-induced cell death comprising administering the improved cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are CD70-binding proteins comprising a CD70-binding domain and a transmembrane domain, engineered immune cells comprising the CD70-binding proteins, and methods of making and using the same. Also provided herein are engineered immune cells e.g. CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T cells for administration to patients to treat cancer (e.g., solid tumors and hematologic tumors) and other unwanted conditions. The cells are engineered to functionally express a first antigen binding molecule e.g. a CD70 CAR and a second antigen binding molecule e.g. a second CAR that binds a target molecule characteristic of the cancer or other disease or unwanted condition. The cells may be further engineered to reduce the functional expression level of one or more of TRAC, CD52 and CD70. Also provided are methods of making and using the engineered cells, compositions and kits comprising them, and methods of treating by administering them.

Abstract: Provided herein are chimeric cytokine receptors bearing a binding domain capable of binding a TGF-? ligand or a TGF-? receptor antibody. When present on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-bearing immune cells (CAR-T-cells), such receptors allow for increased CAR-T cell expansion, activity and persistence, constitutively and/or through engagement of a TGF-? ligand or a TGF-? receptor antibody. Also provided are methods of making and using the chimeric cytokine receptors described herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides inducible chimeric cytokine receptors responsive to a ligand, e.g., a small molecule or protein, uses of such receptors for improving the functional activities of genetically modified immune cells, such as T cells, comprising the inducible chimeric cytokine receptors, and compositions comprising such cells.

Abstract: A reversibly gated effector polypeptide e.g. a chimeric antigen receptor (protease-activating CD45-gate CAR) comprising an extracellular CD45 recruiting domain, a protease-cleavable linker, and a polypeptide comprising an extracellular ligand binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain. Nucleic acids including vectors and expression vectors that encode the protease-activating CD45-gate CAR and cells including immune cells such as T cells that comprise and express the nucleic acids. Methods of treatment of various conditions including various forms of cancer comprising administering the cells including CAR T cell therapy. In some embodiments, the CD45 gate at least partially inhibits activation of the protease-activating CD45-gate CAR when the protease-activating CD45-gate CAR binds antigen. The inhibition is at least partially diminished, relieved and/or eliminated when the protease-activating CD45-gate CAR is exposed to a protease that can cleave the linker.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant antigen receptors, for example chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), that comprise modified cytoplasmic domains that provide improved signalling and thereby provide improved performance and safety. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the recombinant antigen receptors, vectors comprising the polynucleotides, and engineered immune cells comprising the vectors and/or polynucleotides. The invention further provides methods for engineering immune cells to express the recombinant antigen receptors. Improved recombinant antigen receptor signalling is also provided by co-expressing a first recombinant antigen receptor and a second recombinant antigen receptor or co-expressing a recombinant antigen receptor and a protein involved in transducing the signal from the activated recombinant antigen receptor.

Abstract: The disclosure provides CARs (CARs) that specifically bind to CD70. The disclosure further relates to engineered immune cells comprising such CARs, CAR-encoding nucleic acids, and methods of making such CARs, engineered immune cells, and nucleic acids. The disclosure further relates to therapeutic methods for use of these CARs and engineered immune cells comprising these CARs for the treatment of a condition associated with malignant cells expressing CD70 (e.g., cancer).

Abstract: Provided herein are constitutively active chimeric cytokine receptors (CACCRs). When present on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-bearing immune cells, such CACCRs allow for increased immune cell activation, proliferation, persistence, and/or potency. Also provided are methods of making and using the CACCRs described herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are recombinant antigen receptors, for example chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), that comprise modified cytoplasmic domains that provide improved signalling and thereby provide improved performance and safety. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the recombinant antigen receptors, vectors comprising the polynucleotides, and engineered immune cells comprising the vectors and/or polynucleotides. The invention further provides methods for engineering immune cells to express the recombinant antigen receptors. Improved recombinant antigen receptor signalling is also provided by co-expressing a first recombinant antigen receptor and a second recombinant antigen receptor or co-expressing a recombinant antigen receptor and a protein involved in transducing the signal from the activated recombinant antigen receptor.

Abstract: The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind to CD70 (Cluster of Differentiation 70). The invention further provides bispecific antibodies that bind to CD70 and another antigen (e.g., CD3). The invention further relates to antibody encoding nucleic acids, and methods of obtaining such antibodies (monospecific and bispecific). The invention further relates to therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies for the treatment of CD70-mediated pathologies, including cancer.

Abstract: Provided herein are modified caspase-9 polypeptides, and chimeric caspase-9 proteins containing the modified caspase-9 polypeptides. The disclosure further provides polynucleotides encoding these proteins, engineered host cells containing these polynucleotides and proteins, including host cells that co-express a chimeric antigen receptor, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides inducible chimeric cytokine receptors responsive to a ligand, e.g., a small molecule or protein, uses of such receptors for improving the functional activities of genetically modified immune cells, such as T cells, comprising the inducible chimeric cytokine receptors, and compositions comprising such cells.

Abstract: Provided herein are modified caspase-9 polypeptides, and chimeric caspase-9 proteins containing the modified caspase-9 polypeptides. The disclosure further provides polynucleotides encoding these proteins, engineered host cells containing these polynucleotides and proteins, including host cells that co-express a chimeric antigen receptor, and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: Provided herein are constitutively active chimeric cytokine receptors (CACCRs). When present on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-bearing immune cells, such CACCRs allow for increased immune cell activation, proliferation, persistence, and/or potency. Also provided are methods of making and using the CACCRs described herein.

Abstract: Provided here are engineered immune cells that comprise a constitutively active chimeric cytokine receptor (CACCR) and a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Also provided herein are engineered immune cells that comprise one or more nucleic acids e.g. a bicistronic vector such as a viral vector that encode the CACCRs and BCMA CARs and engineered immune cells e.g. engineered autologous or allogeneic T cells that express both CACCRs and BCMA CARs from the nucleic acids. When present on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-bearing engineered immune cells, the CACCRs allow for increased immune cell activation, proliferation, persistence, and/or potency. Further provided herein are methods of making and using the engineered immune cells described herein, such as methods of treating a disease or condition by administering at least one appropriate dose of the cells to a patient suffering from the condition.