Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies among Head and Neck cancer from Italy and Brazil: a case study embedded in the HEADLAcE consortium

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2), the cause of COVID 19, has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The majority of severe cases and mortality occur in individuals with underlying health conditions. Still, how these risks apply to patients with cancer remains unclear. Very preliminary study conducted in cancer patients in China, indicates that patients with cancer and cancer survivors constitute a critical at-risk population for SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, these individuals had a significant higher risk of severe events (admission to the intensive care unit with requirement of invasive ventilation or death) compared with those without cancer. An effective approach to diminish the ongoing pandemic requires a comprehensive understanding of the immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. Testing for this virus should be considered to better define the patient/procedure level of risk. In addition to screening, knowledge of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 can contribute to understanding the epidemiology of COVID-19 in cancer patients, in particular among those with head and neck cancers (HNC).We now have an opportunity to extend our goals with this project supported by the EULAC-HEALTH CONSORTIUM and the FAPESP to address a timely question about the exposure to SARS-CoV-2.