Methods for treatment of cancer

1. A method of treating leukemia in a human patient, the method comprising administering to the human patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising an anti-tumor effective amount of a population of modified autologous human T cells, wherein the T cells comprise a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), wherein the CAR comprises a CD19 antigen binding domain, a CD8α hinge domain, a CD8α transmembrane domain, a CD27 costimulatory signaling region, and a CD3 zeta signaling domain.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anti-tumor effective amount of T cells is 10 4 to 10 9 cells per kg body weight of the human patient.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anti-tumor effective amount of T cells is 10 5 to 10 6 cells per kg body weight of the human patient.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD19 antigen binding domain is an antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the antigen binding fragment is a Fab or scFv.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the antigen binding fragment is an scFv.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the scFv comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 20.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD8α transmembrane domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD8α hinge domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD3 zeta signaling domain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the scFv is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 14.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD8α transmembrane domain is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 16.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD8α hinge domain is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 15.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CD3 zeta signaling domain is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 18.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the leukemia is chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the leukemia is acute lymphocytic leukemia.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified T cells replicate in vivo in the human patient.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified T cells form memory T cells in the human patient.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified T cells are administered intravenously to the human patient.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for a period selected from the group consisting of at least three months, at least four months, at last five months, at least six months and at least seven months after administration.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for at least eight months after administration.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for at least nine months after administration.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for at least ten months after administration.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for at least eleven months after administration.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for at least twelve months after administration.

27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for at least two years after administration.

28. The method of claim 20 , wherein the modified T cells persist in the human patient for at least three years after administration.