Deep learning based tumor-stroma ratio scoring in colon cancer correlates with microscopic assessment

M. Smit, F. Ciompi, J. Bokhorst, G. van Pelt, O. Geessink, H. Putter, R. Tollenaar, J. van Krieken, W. Mesker and J. van der Laak

Journal of Pathology Informatics 2023.

DOI Cited by ~4

Background

The amount of stroma within the primary tumor is a prognostic parameter for colon cancer patients. This phenomenon can be assessed using the tumor-stroma ratio (TSR), which classifies tumors in stroma-low (<=50% stroma) and stroma-high (>50% stroma). Although the reproducibility for TSR determination is good, improvement might be expected from automation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the scoring of the TSR in a semi- and fully automated method using deep learning algorithms is feasible.

Methods

A series of 75 colon cancer slides were selected from a trial series of the UNITED study. For the standard determination of the TSR, 3 observers scored the histological slides. Next, the slides were digitized, color normalized, and the stroma percentages were scored using semi- and fully automated deep learning algorithms. Correlations were determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Spearman rank correlations.

Results

37 (49%) cases were classified as stroma-low and 38 (51%) as stroma-high by visual estimation. A high level of concordance between the 3 observers was reached, with ICCs of 0.91, 0.89, and 0.94 (all P<.001). Between visual and semi-automated assessment the ICC was 0.78 (95% CI 0.23-0.91, P-value 0.005), with a Spearman correlation of 0.88 (P<.001). Spearman correlation coefficients above 0.70 (N=3) were observed for visual estimation versus the fully automated scoring procedures.

Conclusion

Good correlations were observed between standard visual TSR determination and semi- and fully automated TSR scores. At this point, visual examination has the highest observer agreement, but semi-automated scoring could be helpful to support pathologists.