Disclosed are methods, protocols, and compositions of matter useful for induction and/or propagation of antitumor immune responses through gene editing of immunocytes. Stimulation of antitumor adaptive immunity is achieved through gene editing of autologous or allogeneic lymphocytes in a manner to derepress neoplasia induced suppression. The method can include targets of gene editing disclosed in the current invention include the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b, CTLA-4, PD-1, TIM-3, killer inhibitory receptor (KIR) and LAG-3.