Cutaneous Human Papillomaviruses and the Risk of Keratinocyte Carcinomas

Cutaneous human papillomavirus (cuHPV) infections may be novel targets for skin cancer prevention and treatment, but critical information regarding the development of virus-positive skin cancers following cuHPV infection has been lacking. In this study, baseline cuHPV infection was measured by serology and viral DNA detection in eyebrow hairs (EBH) and forearm skin swabs (SSW) among 1,008 individuals undergoing routine skin cancer screening exams and followed for incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC). Baseline β-HPV detection, particularly in SSW, significantly predicted cuSCC (HR = 4.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-18.66), whereas serologic evidence of past β-HPV infection was not associated with cuSCC. Less than 5% of baseline β-HPV types detected in SSW were present in subsequent cuSCC tumors, and cuHPV detected in SSW with higher mean fluorescence intensity values were more likely to be present in cuSCC compared with those with lower levels (P < 0.001). β-HPV-positive cuSCC occurred more often in areas of highly sun-damaged skin than did β-HPV-negative cuSCC. Overall, no clear patterns were observed between baseline β-HPV detection and subsequent development of BCC, or between baseline γ-HPV detection and either cuSCC or BCC. Collectively, these results demonstrate that β-HPV detection in SSW is a significant predictor of cuSCC risk, although evidence suggests only a small subset of cuSCC is etiologically linked to β-HPV infection. SIGNIFICANCE: β-HPV positivity may be a useful biomarker for identifying individuals who could benefit from increased screening or novel cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma prevention strategies.

Pigmented viral plaque and basal cell tumor associated with canine papillomavirus infection in Pug dogs

Pigmented viral plaque is most commonly seen in Pug dogs in association with canine papillomavirus (CPV). In the present study, nucleic acid sequence and localization of viral genes were examined in 4 cases of pigmented viral plaque in Pug dogs. The results of polymerase chain reaction and nucleic acid sequence analysis showed that the 3 cases with pigmented viral plaque were infected with CPV4, and 1 case with CPV18. In the case with CPV18-positive viral plaque, CPV18 gene was also detected in a lesion of cytokeratin-14- and P63-positive basal cell tumor that developed adjacent to a pigmented viral plaque. Moreover, CPV gene was detected in the squamous cells of pigmented viral plaques and the neoplastic cells of basal cell tumor by in situ hybridization. This is the first report of basal cell tumor associated with CPV18-infection in the dog. Infection of CPV18 may be associated with development of basal cell tumor.

Detection of HPV DNA in trichilemmomas by polymerase chain reaction

Paraffin sections of 11 formalin-fixed trichilemmomas were investigated for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the degenerated consensus primer pairs. PCRs were conducted with different annealing temperatures. When the annealing temperature was reduced from 55 degrees C to 50 degrees C, amplification products of the expected size were obtained for all 11 cases investigated. Determination of the HPV type was performed by cloning and sequencing of the amplification products. The sequence analysis of the eleven cloned amplicons gave the following data: based on sequence comparison with published amino acid sequences, the best homology was found to epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)-associated HPVs (supergroup B). In four specimens an HPV type 23 related type was found; five specimens contained HPV sequences which did not match with one of the known HPV types, but had the closest homology to HPV types 15, 17, and 37. Three of the HPV variants which had not been characterised, displayed identical sequences. Two additional HPV amplification fragments displayed played 100% homology to HPV-6b. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of HPV DNA in trichilemmomas. The sequence data suggest that HPV variants or types in trichilemmoma are members of the EV-associated HPV supergroup B.

Human papillomavirus is associated with the frequent detection of warty and basaloid high-grade neoplasia of the vulva and cervical neoplasia among immunocompromised women

A total of 158 women who either HIV-infected or under iatrogenic immunosuppression were examined regularly during a 4-year period to evaluate if certain vulvar neoplasms and cervical neoplasia have similar associated risk factors. Patients with CIN were matched prospectively with immunocompetent controls with CIN. Forty-eight cervical lesions were detected among patients, including 2 invasive carcinoma and 15 CIN-3 lesions, compared to 11 vulvar lesions, including 2 invasive carcinoma and 7 VIN-3 lesions. Women who have more than five life-time partners were more likely to have HPV-DNA positive cervical swabs and vulvar scrapes as well as cervical and/or vulvar neoplasia. Compared to 2.7% of controls 15.2% of patients with CIN had coexisting high-grade lesions of the vulva. With 1 exception all patients with vulvar neoplasia either suffered from symptomatic immunodeficiency or received immunosuppressive drugs for more than 10 years. Except for 1 VIN-3 lesions, all vulvar neoplasms were associated with HPV-DNA types 16, 31, and/or 33. Six of nine patients as well as the 2 controls with coexisting vulvar and cervical neoplasia had the same HPV-type associated with both lesions. All vulvar lesions were classified as either "warty" or "basaloid". In conclusion cervical and bowenoid/basaloid vulvar neoplasia seem to have a similar HPV-related genesis. Malfunction of the cellular immune response appears to be a cofactor in the genesis of HPV-associated neoplasia at both sites.