The present invention provides methods and compositions for the stimulation of immune responses. In particular, the present invention provides compositions (e.g., vaccines) and methods of using the same for the induction of immune responses (e.g., innate and adaptive immune responses (e.g., for generation of host immunity against cancer (e.g., a tumor) or against any type of antigen (e.g. bacterial, viral, parasite-derived)). Compositions and methods of the present invention find use in, among other things, clinical (e.g. prophylactic, therapeutic and preventive medicine (e.g., vaccination)) and research applications. It particularly relates to the area of active specific immunotherapy of cancer (“cancer vaccines”), and provides procedures for the preparation of therapeutic vaccines that can eliminate cancer cells. These vaccines are constructed in such a way that they mimic the release and exchange of cytokines and other bio-molecules on the local cellular level as they occur during induction of natural immune responses.
