The role of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and its relationship to prognosis has been extensively studied in multiple cancers. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis have shown a positive correlation between the lymphocyte infiltration and the overall survival (OS) and also have revealed the possibility of predicting therapeutic response to immunotherapy by evaluating the lymphocyte density in the tumor.
However, the presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes must be described together with the functional features and the phenotypic patterns of the cells. The potential of TIL is evident and therefore, establishing systematic guidelines for evaluation and interpretation of TIL may provide a powerful tool in predicting the survival of the patient and selecting an optimal therapeutic approach.