IN SITU METHODS FOR MONITORING THE EMT STATUS OF TUMOR CELLS IN VIVO

The invention provides methods of determining in situ the EMT status of the cells of a tumor in a patient in vivo, including: (a) providing an EMT-status-detecting conjugate containing an antibody that binds to an EMT-status biomarker, and a reporter molecule; (b) introducing the conjugate into a patient with a tumor, such that the conjugate contacts the EMT-status biomarker of the cells of the tumor; (c) employing a means for detection of the signal from the conjugate at the tumor site; and (d) using a means for image analysis to localize and quantify the signal from the conjugate at the tumor site, a positive signal indicating the presence of epithelial tumor cells if the EMT-status biomarker is an epithelial biomarker, and mesenchymal tumor cells if the EMT-status biomarker is a mesenchymal biomarker. Such methods are useful for diagnosing patients who might benefit from treatment with drugs such as EGFR or IGF-1R kinase inhibitors, and for identifying and testing agents that inhibit tumor cells from undergoing an epithelial to mesenchymal transition. This invention also provides the above methods where an AFFIBODY® molecule that binds to an EMT-status biomarker is used instead of an antibody.