Effects of Viral Infections Like COVID-19 on Head and Neck Cancers: The Role of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Counts and Ratios.

Background: Over the last three years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has had a global impact. COVID-19 has led to diagnostic and treatment delays in head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs). Both cancer and COVID-19 trigger systemic inflammatory responses that can result in cytokine storms, creating a favorable tumor microenvironment that supports tumor growth.