Fig 2: A and B, Overall survival according to OX40+ and CD16+ cell density in a test (n = 217) and validation group (n = 220). Effects of tumor infiltration by OX40+ and CD16+ cells on overall survival in patients with CRC. Kaplan-Meier overall survival curves were designed according to tumor infiltration by OX40+ and CD16+ cells in patients bearing CRC as indicated. Cutoff values established by regression tree analysis were 40 cells/punch for OX40 and 12 cells/punch for CD16 cell infiltration.23,28,29. Cumulative effects of tumor infiltration by OX40+ and CD16+ cells were explored. Blue line indicates tumors with low OX40+ and low CD16+ cell infiltration. Green line refers to tumors with low CD16+ and high OX40+ cell infiltration. Purple line refers to tumors with high CD16+ cell infiltration and low OX40+ cell infiltration. The orange line refers to CRC with high CD16+ cell infiltration and high OX40+ cell infiltration. CRC indicates colorectal cancer.

Fig 3: Kaplan–Meier estimates of relapse-free survival (RFS) (a) and overall survival (OS) (b) of the patients with tumors stratified by the infiltration of OX40+ lymphocytes in tumor stroma. Kaplan–Meier estimates of RFS (c) and OS (d) of the patients with tumors stratified by the expression of OX40+ lymphocytes in cancer nest. Vertical bars indicate the censored cases at the data cutoff point

Fig 4: Samples of CD16 and OX40 staining (40×). Negative control (A); single positive biopsy for CD16 (B); single positive biopsy for OX40 (C); CD16 (D), and OX40 (E) staining of the same double positive biopsy.

Fig 5: Kaplan Meier survival curve of recurrence-free survival according to OX40 expression of immune and tumor cells.