Introduction

The invention provides a method to predict the proliferative/metastatic potential of a neoplasm. The aim is to define the expression pattern of hMENA isoforms as a prognostic/theranostic biomarker and target of new therapeutic protocols for solid tumors. The study of the expression pattern of hMENA isoforms guides the choice of the most effective therapeutic treatment.

Technical features

The method involves the evaluation of the expression of the splicing variants hMena11a and hMenaΔv6 in benign lesions at high risk of neoplastic transformation and in tumor tissue samples, where the positivity of hMena11a, concomitant with a negativity of hMenaΔv6 indicates high proliferative capacity. On the contrary, the absence of hMena11a expression in parallel with the expression of hMenaΔv6 indicates a high metastatic potential. The invention also provides a method to inhibit the invasive capabilities of a tumor by reducing the expression or activity of hMenaΔv6. The detection of specific hMENA isoforms represents a new biomarker that characterizes a subgroup of tumors enriched in mesenchymal cell characteristics and low proliferative activity, offering a useful “signature” for the prognosis of different solid tumors.

Possible Applications

• Kit for detecting metastatic risk in cancer patients. Expression of hMENA isoforms, undetectable in healthy tissues, can identify invasive/proliferative tumors;
• Inhibit the invasiveness of a pre-neoplastic/neoplastic lesion with drugs capable of preventing the expression of hMenaΔv6.

Advantages

• Economical and easy to perform prognostic/teranostic assay in each unit of pathological anatomy;
• Monoclonal antibodies specific for hMENA isoforms suitable for IHC analysis of paraffin tissues;
• Methodology for tumors of different histotype (carcinoma of the lung, pancreas, breast, etc).