DIAGNOSTIC METHYLATION MARKERS OF EPITHELIAL OR MESENCHYMAL PHENOTYPE AND RESPONSE TO EGFR KINASE INHIBITOR IN TUMOURS OR TUMOUR CELLS

The present invention provides methods for determining epithelial and mesenchymal phenotype of tumors and predicting whether tumor growth will be sensitive or resistant to treatment with an EGFR inhibitor. In particular, presence or absence of methylation of DNA at a CpG site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of CLDN7, HOXC4, CP2L3, TBCD, ESPR1, GRHL2, ERBB2, and C20orf55 is provided as a marker of a mesenchymal phenotype in a tumour cell, for determining the sensitivity of tumor growth to inhibition by an EGFR kinase inhibitor, and/or for identifying a cancer patient who is likely to benefit from treatment with an EFGR inhibitor. Presence or absence of methylation of DNA at a CpG site in at least one gene selected from the group consisting of the PCDH8, PEX5L, GALR1, and ZEB2 is provided as a marker of epithelial phenotype of a tumor cell.