Cutaneous HPV and skin cancer

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Dermatology
• Oncology

Background:

• Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small, non-enveloped icosahedral viruses infecting skin and mucosal keratinocytes.
• Cutaneous HPVs, mainly beta and gamma genera, are common in healthy individuals.
• Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a primary cause of non-melanoma skin cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the co-carcinogenic role of beta-genus cutaneous HPVs with UVR in skin cancer.
• To explore the association between beta-HPVs and skin cancer in various patient groups.
• To understand the potential role of beta-HPVs in the early stages of skin tumor development.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies reporting HPV DNA and/or antibodies in skin cancer patients.
• Analysis of HPV prevalence and viral load in different stages of skin carcinogenesis.
• In vivo and in vitro studies examining the transforming activities of HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins.

Main Results:

• Beta-HPVs are implicated as co-carcinogens with UVR, particularly in epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) patients.
• Associations between beta-HPV DNA/antibodies and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have been reported in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals.
• HPV prevalence and viral load decrease from actinic keratosis to SCC, supporting a role in early carcinogenesis (hit-and-run hypothesis).

Conclusions:

• Cutaneous beta-HPVs may act as co-carcinogens with UVR in the development of skin cancer.
• Evidence suggests beta-HPVs play a role in the early stages of skin tumor initiation.
• Transforming activities of certain beta-HPV E6/E7 proteins further support their oncogenic potential.