Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40033106›Full record

ArticleBJC reports2025

Deep-learning enabled combined measurement of tumour cell density and tumour infiltrating lymphocyte density as a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer.

Alice C Westwood, Benjamin I Wilson, Jon Laye, Heike I Grabsch, Wolfram Mueller, Derek R Magee, Phillip Quirke, Nicholas P West

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJC reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. The density of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in oesophago-gastric cancer varies with disease stage, geographical region and treatment: a post hoc analysis of nine phase III clinical trials.Gastric cancer : official journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alice C WestwoodDivision of Pathology and Data Analytics, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Benjamin I WilsonSchool of Computing, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Jon LayeDivision of Pathology and Data Analytics, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Heike I GrabschDivision of Pathology and Data Analytics, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Wolfram MuellerGemeinschaftspraxis Pathologie, Starnberg, Germany.
Derek R MageeSchool of Computing, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Phillip QuirkeDivision of Pathology and Data Analytics, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Nicholas P WestDivision of Pathology and Data Analytics, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. N.P.West@leeds.ac.uk.

Funding

Cancer Research UK RRCOER-Jun24/100004Cancer Research UK S4154NIHR NIHR203331UK Research and Innovation EP/S024336/1Yorkshire Cancer Research L386
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWithin the colorectal cancer (CRC) tumour microenvironment, tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumour cell density (TCD) are recognised prognostic markers. Measurement of TILs and TCD using deep-learning (DL) on haematoxylin and eosin (HE) whole slide images (WSIs) could aid management.

methodsHE WSIs from the primary tumours of 127 CRC patients were included. DL was used to quantify TILs across different regions of the tumour and TCD at the luminal surface. The relationship between TILs, TCD, and cancer-specific survival was analysed.

resultsMedian TIL density was higher at the invasive margin than the luminal surface (963 vs 795 TILs/mm

conclusionsDL derived TIL and TCD score were independently prognostic in CRC. Patients with low TILs and TCD are at the highest risk of cancer-specific death. DL quantification of TILs and TCD could be used in combination alongside other validated prognostic biomarkers in routine clinical practice.

Identifiers

PMID40033106
PMCPMC11876445

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.