In the multivariate analysis, younger age (< 50 years), histologic grade (grade 3), TNBC receptor group (vs. ER/PR positive group), and a tumor size of ≤ 2 cm (vs. > 5 cm) were significantly associated with higher sTIL level in at least one of the three subgroups (all patients without NACT, all patients with NACT, and the ER/PR positive patients without NACT) tested (Tables 5 and 6 and Additional file 1, Table S5). This evidence concerns the gene ESR1 and neoplasm.