Using a novel whole slide imaging software platform for an international multicenter validation study to assess the histological growth pattern of liver metastases.

The histological growth pattern (HGP) of solid tumor metastases to liver is an easy-to-assess and integrative histopathological parameter of tumor-stromal interactions [1]. With preliminary data suggesting that theHGPof colorectal cancer liver metastases has prognostic value [2], we hypothesize that it also might predict response to therapy [1, 3]. To enhance pathological assessments, we organized an internationalmulticenter validation study within the LiverMetastasis Research Consortium.