Trastuzumab-based therapy has improved HER2+ breast cancer outcomes, but benefit varies and predictive markers are lacking.
The study used DeSTIL (Density and Spatial architecture of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes), an interpretable computational pathology signature from H&E slides that captures the spatial organization of immune cells and their interactions with non-immune cells.
Validated in the phase III NSABP B-41 randomized trial, DeSTIL identified a subset of patients deriving greater event-free survival benefit from trastuzumab: DeSTIL-positive patients had markedly improved event-free survival with trastuzumab versus the combination arm. DeSTIL-negative patients show no differences.
Read the full paper HERE.
