Autologous T cells engineered to express a CD19-specific CAR with CD28/CD3ζ signaling (19-28z) that triggers T-cell activation and cytotoxic killing of CD19+ B-ALL cells upon antigen engagement. The cells are further engineered to constitutively secrete IL-18, which enhances Th1/IFN-γ signaling, boosts T and NK cell activation, cytotoxicity, proliferation, and persistence, and modulates the tumor microenvironment to improve anti-leukemic activity.