Metastasis specific splice variants of mena and uses thereof in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of tumors
Methods and kits for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of metastatic tumors are provided where the metastatic tumor is characterized by changes in expression of +++, ++ and/or 11a variants of Mena.
1. A method for determining whether a subject has a metastatic tumor comprising assaying a blood, tissue and/or tumor sample of the subject for expression of the ++ and/or +++ and 11a variants of Mena, wherein expression of the ++ and/or +++ variant of Mena is compared to expression of Mena 11a and wherein overexpression of the ++ and/or +++ variant of Mena compared to expression of Mena 11a indicates the presence of a metastatic tumor.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor is a secretory epithelial tumor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor is a breast, pancreas, prostate, colon, brain, liver, lung, head or neck tumor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is assayed using an agent that specifically binds to the ++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:2) or +++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:4) of Mena or to nucleic acid encoding the ++ isoform or +++ isoform of Mena.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the agent is an antibody, a peptide or an aptamer.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the agent is labeled with a detectable marker.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is assayed for the ++ variant of Mena.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is assayed for the +++ variant of Mena.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is assayed for both the ++ variant and the +++ variant of Mena.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein overexpression of the ++ and/or +++ variant of Mena occurs in combination with overexpression of one or more of Arp 2/3 complex subunit p21, Arp 2/3 complex subunit p16, actinin alpha 3, capping protein alpha 1, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), WAVE 3, actin gamma, LIM-kinase 1, cofilin 1, Rock 1, RhoA or protein kinase Cz.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein overexpression of the ++ and/or +++ variants and decreased expression of the 11a variant of Mena, together, indicate the presence of a metastatic tumor.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is assayed using an agent that specifically binds to Mena 11a (SEQ ID NO:24) or to nucleic acid encoding Mena 11a.
13. A method for assessing the efficacy of therapy to treat a metastatic tumor in a subject who has undergone or is undergoing treatment for a metastatic tumor, the method comprising assaying a blood, tissue and/or tumor sample of the subject for expression of the ++ and/or +++ and 11a variants of Mena, wherein expression of the ++ and/or +++ variant of Mena is compared to expression of Mena 11a and wherein overexpression of the ++ and/or +++ variant of Mena compared to expression of Mena 11a is indicative of a need to continue therapy to treat the tumor.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein overexpression of the ++ and/or +++ variants and decrease in expression of the 11a variant of Mena is indicative of a need to continue therapy to treat the tumor.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tumor is a secretory epithelial tumor.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tumor is a breast, pancreas, prostate, colon, brain, liver, lung, head or neck tumor.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sample is assayed for the ++ variant of Mena.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sample is assayed for the +++ variant of Mena.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sample is assayed for both the ++ variant and the +++ variant of Mena.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sample is assayed using an agent that specifically binds to the ++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:2) or +++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:4) of Mena or to nucleic acid encoding the ++ isoform or +++ isoform of Mena.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the agent is an antibody, a peptide or an aptamer.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the agent is labeled with a detectable marker.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sample is assayed using an agent that specifically binds to Mena 11a (SEQ ID NO:24) or to nucleic acid encoding Mena 11a.
24. A method for assessing the prognosis of a subject who has a metastatic tumor, comprising assaying a blood, tissue and/or tumor sample of the subject for expression of the ++ and/or +++ and 11a variants of Mena, wherein expression of the ++ and/or +++ variant of Mena is compared to expression of Mena 11a and wherein the subject's prognosis improves with a decrease in expression of the ++ and/or +++ variant of Mena compared to expression of Mena 11a.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the subject's prognosis improves with a decrease in expression of the ++ and/or +++ variants of Mena and an increase in expression of the 11a variant of Mena.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the tumor is a secretory epithelial tumor.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the tumor is a breast, pancreas, prostate, colon, brain, liver, lung, head or neck tumor.
28. The method of claim 24 , wherein the sample is assayed for the ++ variant of Mena.
29. The method of claim 24 , wherein the sample is assayed for the +++ variant of Mena.
30. The method of claim 24 , wherein the sample is assayed for both the ++ variant and the +++ variant of Mena.
31. The method of claim 24 , wherein the sample is assayed using an agent that specifically binds to the ++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:2) or +++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:4) of Mena or to nucleic acid encoding the ++ isoform or +++ isoform of Mena.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the agent is an antibody, a peptide or an aptamer.
33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the agent is labeled with a detectable marker.
34. The method of claim 24 , wherein the sample is assayed using an agent that specifically binds to Mena 11a (SEQ ID NO:24) or to nucleic acid encoding Mena 11a.