Automated quantification of CD3+ marker in invasive breast carcinoma using qupath software: A literature review and pilot study in Vietnam
Main Article Content
Abstract
The assessment of Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) via CD3+ marker expression provides independent prognostic value in breast carcinoma. However, traditional visual estimation exhibits significant intra-observer and inter-observer variability among pathologists. This article proposes a four-step protocol utilizing QuPath software and evaluates its preliminary feasibility on a pilot cohort of 14 digital whole-slide images (WSIs) in Vietnam. The workflow focuses on calibrating optical density (OD) color vectors, segmenting cells based on the Watershed algorithm, and automatically labeling CD3+ cells via DAB intensity thresholds. Empirical results demonstrate the objective extraction of TIL density parameters (cells/mm²) with high reproducibility. However, the accuracy of this augmented intelligence model is strictly dependent on staining consistency and pre-analytical quality. QuPath serves as a strategic solution to assist pathologists in CD3+ quantification, but its practical implementation requires technical standardization and specialized training in digital pathology.
Article Details
Keywords
Breast carcinoma, tumor microenvironment, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, digital pathology
References
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