Methods and compositions for detecting and modulating a novel mtor complex

A mixture of a first and a second antibody comprising:

• a) a first antibody having a first chemical moiety, wherein said first antibody specifically binds to a first polypeptide comprising an mTOR polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• and,
• b) a second antibody having a second chemical moiety, wherein said second antibody specifically binds to a second polypeptide comprising a TEL2 polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• wherein said first and said second chemical moiety allow for the detection of an mTOR complex 3 (mTORC3).

A kit for determining the level of expression of a polynucleotide encoding an mTOR polypeptide and a polynucleotide encoding a TEL2 polypeptide in a sample comprising:

• a) a first polynucleotide or pair of polynucleotides capable of specifically detecting or specifically amplifying a polynucleotide encoding an mTOR polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• and
• b) a second polynucleotide or pair of polynucleotides capable of specifically detecting or specifically amplifying a polynucleotide encoding a TEL2 polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• wherein the encoded polypeptides are capable of associating with one another in an mTOR complex 3 (mTORC3).

A method for detecting the level of expression of a polynucleotide encoding an mTOR polypeptide and a polynucleotide encoding a TEL2 polypeptide in a sample comprising

• a) contacting said sample with
• i) a first and a second primer capable of specifically amplifying a first amplicon of a polynucleotide encoding an mTOR polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• and,
• ii) a third and a fourth primer capable of specifically amplifying a second amplicon of a polynucleotide encoding a TEL2 polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• wherein the encoded polypeptides are capable of associating with one another in an mTOR complex 3 (mTORC3);
• b) amplifying said first and said second amplicon;
• and
• c) detecting said first and said second amplicon and thereby detecting the level of expression of a polynucleotide encoding an mTOR polypeptide and a polynucleotide encoding a TEL2 polypeptide in said sample.

A method for detecting the level of expression of a polynucleotide encoding an mTOR polypeptide and a polynucleotide encoding a TEL2 polypeptide in a sample, said method comprising:

• a) contacting said sample with
• i) a first polynucleotide capable of specifically detecting a polynucleotide encoding an mTOR polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• and,
• ii) a second polynucleotide capable of specifically detecting a polynucleotide encoding a TEL2 polypeptide or a biologically active variant or fragment thereof;
• wherein the encoded polypeptides are capable of associating with one another in an mTOR complex 3 (mTORC3);
• and
• b) detecting said polynucleotide encoding the mTOR polypeptide or an active variant or fragment thereof and the polynucleotide encoding the TEL2 polypeptide or an active variant or fragment thereof.

A method for diagnosing a cancer in a subject or determining the severity of a cancer in a subject, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• a) evaluating the level of an mTOR complex 3 (mTORC3) in a biological sample from said subject;
• b) comparing the level of said mTORC3 in the biological sample of said subject to a control;
• and
• c) diagnosing said cancer in said subject, wherein the level of said mTORC3 in the biological sample of said subject is relatively higher than the control;
• or determining the cancer of said subject is more severe than the control, wherein the level of mTORC3 in the biological sample of said subject is relatively higher than the control.

A method for diagnosing a non-B cell cancer in a subject or determining the severity of a non-B cell cancer in a subject, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

• a) evaluating the expression of TEL2 in a biological sample from said subject;
• b) comparing the expression of TEL2 in said biological sample of said subject with a control;
• and
• c) diagnosing said non-B cell cancer in said subject, wherein the expression level of TEL2 in the biological sample of said subject is relatively higher than the control;
• or determining the non-B cell cancer of said subject is more severe than the control, wherein the expression level of TEL2 in the sample of said subject is relatively higher than the control, wherein said non-B cell cancer is selected from the group consisting of ependymoma, Ewing's sarcoma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, rhabdoid cancer, nephroblastoma (Wilm's tumor), esophageal carcinoma, liposarcoma, bladder cancer, gastric cancer, myxofibrosarcoma, colon cancer, kidney cancer, histiosarcoma, ovarian cancer, endometrial carcinoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer.