Assessment of intra-tumoural heterogeneity within our study was achieved by combining an image analysis tool with RNAscope® to provide a standardised, objective method to quantify mRNA expression levels (mRNA signals/cell) for GFI1 and TNFRSF11A. Our data showed GFI1 and TNFRSF11A were expressed at a significantly higher level in carcinoma cells compared to non-carcinoma cells (lymphocytes, stromal cells and normal cells). This evidence concerns the gene TNFRSF11A and carcinoma.