The proportion of proliferating stromal immune cells was positively correlated with the amount of tumour area in the sample (Spearman Rho, CD3+Ki67+ = 0.397, CD8+Ki67+ = 0.331, CD4+Ki67+ = 0.414, Foxp3+Ki67+ = 0.395, P < 0.001, Supplementary Fig. 11). This evidence concerns the gene FOXP3 and neoplasm.