Human
papillomavirus (HPV) may be a risk
factor in developing squamous cell
carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer,
according to research led by Dartmouth
Medical School. The study, published in
the March 15 issue of the Journal of the
National Cancer Institute, used new
technology to detect antibodies from a
strain of HPV on skin cancer samples.
"We found a
virus that may be a risk factor for skin
cancer," said lead investigator Dr.
Margaret Karagas, of Dartmouth Medical
School's Norris Cotton Cancer Center.
"Although sun exposure and sensitivity
to sun are still the main culprits in
skin cancer, our findings suggest skin
types of HPV also may play a role in the
development of squamous cell
carcinomas."
Previous
research has found a relationship
between cancer of the cervix and "alpha"
or mucosal types of HPV. Karagas and her
team focused their research on the skin
types or "beta" HPVs. The research team
searched for beta HPV antibodies in
plasma samples from 252 patients with
squamous cell carcinoma, 525 patients
with basal cell carcinomas and 461
control subjects.
Using multiplex
serology, a new method based on
fluorescent bead technology that detects
viral antibodies, the authors detected
HPV antibodies in patients diagnosed
with squamous cell carcinoma more
frequently than in the control subjects.
The researchers did not detect a
presence of HPV in the patients with
basal cell carcinomas more frequently
than controls.
"This makes
sense because we have known that
patients who are taking
immunosuppressive drugs, such as organ
transplant recipients have a tendency to
develop squamous cell skin cancers, and
that their tumors frequently contain
these beta type HPVs," said Karagas.
In addition to
searching for HPV antibodies in the
samples, the researchers conducted
one-on-one interviews with the study
participants to gage other skin cancer
factors that could play a role in the
study's results. Participants were asked
about lifestyle habits including whether
they smoked or drank, medical and family
history, and their usual level of sun
exposure and their skin's sensitivity to
sun. Taking all these other factors into
account, the researchers still found an
association between HPV and squamous
skin cancer.
"While further
study is needed, a potential role of
viruses in skin cancer occurrence could
represent a new line of investigation
for the detection and treatment of
squamous cell skin cancer," said Karagas.
The authors note that although they
identified an association between HPV
antibodies and squamous cell carcinoma
risk, more studies must be done to
establish a direct causal link.
This research
was done in collaboration with the New
Hampshire Dermatologic Society and
funded by the National Cancer Institute
and the National Institutes of Health.
Source: Dartmouth Medical School
Published on 18th
MARCH 2006
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