Detection of mucosal human papilloma virus DNA in bowenoid papulosis, Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Abstract

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is known to be an etiologic agent for benign warts of the skin. Recently, HPV have been detected in malignant skin and mucosal diseases suggesting that HPV infection can induce malignant skin tumors. In the present study, we examined the presence of mucosal HPV DNA in normal tissue, Bowen's disease (BD), Bowenoid papulosis (BP) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. We detected the HPV DNA with polymerase chain reactions, and identified the type by DNA sequencing. In the results, we detected HPV DNA in none of the 17 normal controls, two of the three BP (66.7%), one of the 21 BD (4.8%), and six of the 26 SCC of the skin samples (23.0%). The occurrence rates of HPV in BP and SCC were significantly elevated compared to that of normal controls (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). In addition, the occurrence rate of HPV in BP was significantly elevated compared to that of BD (P < 0.05). The reproducibility was confirmed with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with another primer pair. Of the two cases of BP with positive HPV DNA, one case showed HPV 31 and the other case HPV 16. The case of BD with positive HPV DNA showed HPV 31. Of the six cases of SCC with positive HPV DNA, one case showed HPV 16, another case HPV 34, and the other four cases HPV 31. These results showed that mucosal HPV, including HPV 31 and 16, could be detected in SSC of the skin. Mucosal HPV, not only the epidermodysplasia verruciformis type, appear to induce malignant skin tumors.

Progeny of Lgr5-expressing hair follicle stem cell contributes to papillomavirus-induced tumor development in epidermis

“…17,18 However, HPV16 was also detected in human skin SCCs, indicating that this HPV type is competent at inducing malignant skin lesions. 19,20 HPV16 encodes oncoproteins E6 and E7, which inactivate several proteins, the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein family and the tumor-suppressor protein p53 being the best characterized of these. 21 The impact of HPV16 E6 and E7 expression on skin cancer was demonstrated through the generation of the K14-HPV16 mouse model.…”

Infecção pelo papilomavírus humano: etiopatogenia, biologia molecular e manifestações clínicas

“…13 Other types of HPV such as HPV 18, 31-35, 39-42, 48 and 51-54 have been detected in lesions of BP. 44 …”

BritishAssociation ofDermatologists' guidelines for the management of squamous cell carcinomain situ(Bowen's disease) 2014

“…Aetiological factors for SCC in situ include (i) irradiation: ultraviolet radiation (solar, iatrogenic and sunbeds) 14,18 and radiotherapy; (ii) carcinogens: arsenic (lesions may arise in sun-protected areas) 19 ; (iii) immunosuppression: in particular, therapeutic 20,21 ; (iv) viral: there is an association between human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV16, and the development of anogenital SCC in situ, [22][23][24] but this is by no means conditional for its development. 25 HPV DNA has been demonstrated in extragenital SCC in situ in varying amounts from 4Á8-60%.…”

“…25 HPV DNA has been demonstrated in extragenital SCC in situ in varying amounts from 4Á8-60%. 24,[26][27][28] It appears that HPV16 may be particularly relevant with regard to development of SCC in situ on the hands and feet; it has been implicated in 60% of palmoplantar and periungual lesions 29 ; and (v) others: chronic injury or dermatoses (such as lupus vulgaris or chronic lupus erythematosus) have been implicated. 30 …”