Prognostic scoring has predominantly focused on the presence, absence or semi-quantitative analysis of immune cells in tumour epithelium.7 Moreover, cell densities of lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells have also been shown to be prognostic in breast, ovarian and lung cancer without restricting analyses to malignant epithelial cell areas.8–10 Approaches that combine analyses of multiple immune infiltrates, such as the CD3/CD8 immunoscore in colorectal cancer,11 have not yet been developed for ovarian cancer prognosis. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is ovarian carcinoma.