Comorbidity between lung cancer and COVID-19 pneumonia: role of immunoregulatory gene transcripts in high <i>ACE2</i>-expressing normal lung

We report a normal lung immune-tolerant state that may explain a potential comorbidity risk between two diseases - NSCLC and susceptibility to COVID-19 pneumonia. Further, a NSCLC patient subgroup has normal lung tissue expressing high <i>ACE2</i> and high <i>ICOS</i> transcripts, the latter potentially promoting a hyperimmune response, and possibly leading to severe COVID-19 pulmonary compromise.