Metastasis specific splice variants of mena and uses thereof in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of tumors

Abstract

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 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of inhibiting metastasis of a primary tumor or growth of a metastatic tumor in a subject, the method comprising reducing the presence or activity of the ++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:2) and/or +++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:4) of Mena in the subject. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the presence or activity of the isoform is reduced by addition of an antisense molecule, a ribozyme, or an RNAi molecule to the tumor, where the antisense molecule, ribozyme or RNAi molecule specifically inhibits expression of the isoform. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the presence or activity of the isoform is reduced by addition of an antibody, antibody fragment, peptide or aptamer to the tumor, wherein the antibody, antibody fragment, peptide or aptamer specifically binds to and reduces the activity of the isoform. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tumor is a secretory epithelial tumor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tumor is a breast, pancreas, prostate, colon, brain, liver, lung, head or neck tumor. 
     
     
         25 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A kit for detecting the presence or absence of a metastatic tumor, the kit comprising an antibody, an antibody fragment, a peptide or an aptamer that specifically binds to the ++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:2) or +++ isoform (SEQ ID NO:4) of Mena. 
     
     
         35 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tumor has potential to be a metastatic tumor. 
     
     
         51 . A method for treating a tumor in a subject who has undergone or is undergoing treatment for a tumor, the method comprising
 receiving identification of the subject as having overexpression of the +++ variant of Mena and thus in need of continued therapy to treat the tumor; and   administering to the subject undergoing continued therapy to treat the tumor an amount of an antibody, antibody fragment, peptide, aptamer, antisense molecule, ribozyme or RNAi molecule inhibitor of the +++ variant of Mena effective to reduce the presence or activity of the +++ variant of Mena in a subject.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the tumor has potential to be a metastatic tumor. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein expression of the +++ variant of Mena is compared to expression of Mena 11a and wherein overexpression of the +++ variant of Mena compared to expression of Mena 11a is indicative of a need to continue therapy to treat the tumor. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the tumor is a secretory epithelial tumor. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the tumor is a breast, pancreas, prostate, colon, brain, liver, lung, head or neck tumor.