An integrative approach of digital image analysis and transcriptome profiling to explore potential predictive biomarkers for TGF blockade therapy.

Increasing evidence suggests that the presence and spatial localization and distribution pattern of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is associate with response to immunotherapies. Recent studies have identified TGF activity and signaling as a determinant of T cell exclusion in the tumor microenvironment and poor response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Here we coupled the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital image analysis and gene expression profiling as an integrative approach to quantify distribution of TILs and characterize the associated TGF pathway activity.