Correlation coefficient (Spearman r) and p value in the indicated tissues MSF indices compared NB (n=19) NB-T (n=18) B (n=8) T (n=23) Overall MSF grade v. epithelial area r=0.769 p=0.0001 r=0.900 p=0.0001 r=0.768 p=0.028 r= 0.558 p=0.005 Overall MSF grade v. epithelial score r=0.745 p=0.0003 r=0.903 p=0.0001 r=0.951 p=0.001 r=0.794 p<0.0001 Overall MSF grade v. vascular grade r=0.724 p=0.0005 r=0.723 p=0.0007 r= 0.699 p=0.06 r=0.433 p=0.039 Fibroblast grade v. vascular grade r=1.000 p=0.0001 r=0.979 p<0.0001 r=0.529 p=0.19 r=0.340 p=0.11 Epithelial area v. fibroblast grade r=0.464 p=0.045 r=0.677 p=0.002 r=-0.085 p=0.84 r=0.353 p=0.10   Epithelial area v. vascular grade r=0.464 p=0.045 r=0.682 p=0.001 r=0.387 p=0.32 r=0.309 p=0.15 Epithelial score v. fibroblast grade r=0.456 p=0.049 r=0.605 p=0.007   r=0.261 p=0.53 r=0.532 p=0.09 Epithelial score v. vascular grade r=0.456 p=0.049 r=0.613 p=0.006 r=0.548 p=0.17 r=0.319 p=0.13

MSF expression was determined in NB, NB-T, B and T tissues according to various MSF indices (shown in Figures 2 & 3). Correlations were analysed for the indicated MSF indices and tissues. Values showing no significant correlation are highlighted

Table 3: Correlations among MSF indices.