POLE and neoplasm: In this analysis of 1804 stage II/III CRCs from two clinical trials with external validation, we have shown that while the association of intratumoural CD8+ cell density with recurrence is independent of MMR-D, POLE mutation and CIN, it appears to vary by primary tumour and nodal status, from absent or minimal in pT3,N0 disease, to strong in pT4,N1/N2 disease.