A recent study conducted in 73 advanced HNSCC patients (Ohashi et al. 2020) proved that WBC count was significantly correlated with 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters, and speculated that tumor with upregulated aerobic glycolysis produce large amounts of lactic acid and cytokines and might mediate systemic inflammation via the lactic acid-induced IL-23/IL-17 pathway. This evidence concerns the gene IL17A and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.