Provided herein are polypeptides comprising membrane-anchored IL-12. Also provided herein are T cells expressing the membrane-anchored IL-12. Further, methods of treating cancer comprising administering T cells expressing membrane-anchored IL-12 are provided herein. Also provided are combination treatments comprising T cells expressing membrane-anchored IL-12 and T cell chemoattractant-inducing chemokines. In addition, methods are provided for activating T cells to express NKG2D and methods of their use in the treatment of cancer.