Seroreactivity to Cutaneous Human Papillomaviruses among Patients with Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer or Benign Skin Lesions

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 189 - 195
• Main Authors: ANDERSSON, Kristin, WATERBOER, Tim, KIRNBAUER, Reinhard, SLUPETZKY, Katharina, IFTNER, Thomas, DE VILLIERS, Ethel-Michele, FORSLUND, Ola, PAWLITA, Michael, DILLNER, Joakim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Association for Cancer Research 01-01-2008
• Subjects: Aged; antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer and Oncology; Cancer och onkologi; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Basal Cell - virology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - immunology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - virology; Case-Control Studies; Clinical Medicine; Dermatology; DNA, Viral - analysis; Female; Genotype; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Keratosis - virology; Klinisk medicin; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Papillomaviridae - immunology; Papillomavirus Infections - immunology; Papillomavirus Infections - virology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Seroepidemiologic Studies; serology; Skin Neoplasms - immunology; Skin Neoplasms - virology; tumor virology; Tumors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; validation; Papillomavirus; Virus; Human; Human papillomavirus; Skin disease; Cancerology; Patient; Skin; Papovaviridae; Malignant tumor; Cancer; Skin cancer
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755; 1538-7755
• DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0405

Cutaneous human papillomaviruses (HPV) are common in nonmelanoma skin cancers, benign skin lesions, and healthy skin. Increased
seroprevalences for cutaneous HPV among nonmelanoma skin cancer patients have been described. To determine whether antibodies
to cutaneous HPV are related to presence of the virus and/or to skin disease, we collected serum and biopsies from both lesions
and healthy skin from 434 nonimmunosuppressed patients (72 squamous cell carcinomas, 160 basal cell carcinomas, 81 actinic
keratoses, and 121 benign lesions). Biopsies were analyzed for HPV DNA by PCR, cloning, and sequencing. Serum antibodies to
the major capsid protein L1 of HPV 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 20, 24, 32, 36, 38, and 57 as well as to the oncoproteins E6
and E7 of HPV 8 and 38 were detected using a multiplexed fluorescent bead-based assay. Type-specific seroprevalence among
patients with the same type of HPV DNA (sensitivity of serology) varied from 0% to at most 28%. Presence of HPV DNA and antibodies
to the same HPV type was not significantly correlated. However, seropositivity to any HPV type was significantly more common
among patients positive for HPV DNA of any HPV type (odds ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-2.34). Seroprevalences
were similar among the different patient groups but was, for most HPV types, somewhat higher among squamous cell carcinoma
patients than among basal cell carcinoma patients ( P < 0.01). In conclusion, additional studies are required to clarify the biological meaning of seropositivity as a marker of
cutaneous HPV infection and skin disease. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(1):189–95)