Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41551528›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of gastroenterology2026

Predicting lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer using case-level multiple instance learning.

Ling-Feng Zou, Xuan-Bing Wang, Jing-Wen Li, Xin Ouyang, Yi-Ying Luo, Yan Luo, Cheng-Long Wang

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in World journal of gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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

7 authors.

Ling-Feng ZouDepartment of Pathology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400021, China.
Xuan-Bing WangDepartment of Pathology, Chongqing Jiulongpo People's Hospital, Chongqing 400050, China.
Jing-Wen LiDepartment of Pathology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400021, China.
Xin OuyangDepartment of Pathology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400021, China.
Yi-Ying LuoDepartment of Pathology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400021, China.
Yan LuoDepartment of Stomatology, The People's Hospital of Dadukou District, Chongqing 400084, China.
Cheng-Long WangDepartment of Pathology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400021, China. qq171909771@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is crucial for managing locally advanced (T3/T4) colorectal cancer (CRC). However, both traditional histopathology and standard slide-level deep learning often fail to capture the sparse and diagnostically critical features of metastatic potential.

aimTo develop and validate a case-level multiple-instance learning (MIL) framework mimicking a pathologist's comprehensive review and improve T3/T4 CRC LNM prediction.

methodsThe whole-slide images of 130 patients with T3/T4 CRC were retrospectively collected. A case-level MIL framework utilising the CONCH v1.5 and UNI2-h deep learning models was trained on features from all haematoxylin and eosin-stained primary tumour slides for each patient. These pathological features were subsequently integrated with clinical data, and model performance was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC).

resultsThe case-level framework demonstrated superior LNM prediction over slide-level training, with the CONCH v1.5 model achieving a mean AUC (± SD) of 0.899 ± 0.033

conclusionA case-level MIL framework provides a superior approach for predicting LNM in advanced CRC. This method shows promise for risk stratification and therapy decisions, requiring further validation.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsDeep LearningLymphatic MetastasisLymph NodesAgedArea Under CurveFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMultiple-Instance Learning AlgorithmsNeoplasm StagingPredictive Learning ModelsPredictive Value of TestsRetrospective StudiesColorectal cancerDeep learningHistopathologyLymph node metastasisMultiple instance learning

Identifiers

PMID41551528
PMCPMC12809146

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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.