Deep learning-based quantification of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes as a prognostic indicator in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: multicohort findings.

Journal: ESMO open
Published Date: Jul 3, 2025

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) features a tumor-immune microenvironment rich in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), important for prognosis but labor-intensive to quantify. This study evaluates a deep learning model to quantify TILs (TIL) in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained whole-slide images (WSIs) of NPC and explores the association of TIL percentage with patient outcomes and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).

Authors

  • T Lu
    NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China; Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China; JXHC Key Laboratory of Tumour Metastasis, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, China; JXHC Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunoregulation, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, China.
  • F Xie
    Department of Radiology, Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Ganzhou, China.
  • Y Hu
    General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
  • S Zhan
    Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Fuqing City Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
  • F Zhong
    NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China; Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
  • J Chen
    Neurosurgery (J.C.).
  • J Pan
  • X Gong
    NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China; Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China; JXHC Key Laboratory of Tumour Metastasis, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, China.
  • Z Liu
    School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
  • C Huang
    4 Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  • C Xie
    Department of Epidemic Prevention,Luogang Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Guangzhou,China.
  • Q Guo
    Department of Radiation Oncology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital & Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China. Electronic address: guoqiaojuan@163.com.
  • M L K Chua
    Department of Head and Neck and Thoracic Cancers, Division of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Oncology Academic Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: gmsclkm@nus.edu.sg.
  • J Li
    Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.

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