Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection increases the risk of developing certain skin cancers and the risk is worse if people are taking immunosuppressive drugs.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection increases the risk of developing certain skin cancers and the risk is worse if people are taking immunosuppressive drugs.
The most common skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) are increasing globally and ultraviolet radiation is the main established risk factor. HPV infection - of which there are more than 100 types - may play a role in their development. Other types of HPVs are known to cause cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, and penis.
Past studies have proved that HPV infection is associated with occurrence of skin cancer among organ transplant recipients and people with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) a rare genetic disorder that leads to warts and skin lesions. Researchers studied 2,366 American skin cancer patients and controls aged 25 to 74 years, to investigate the association between HPV and the incidence of skin cancer in the general population. They measured HPV antibodies in blood samples of newly diagnosed and confirmed basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma patients and matched population controls.
Results showed that people with several types of HPVs were more than one and a half times more likely to develop certain skin cancers than people with no HPVs. Squamous cell carcinoma, but not basal cell carcinoma, were far more likely to have each of the HPV types compared to people in the control group. The likelihood of having squamous cell carcinoma increased as people were found to have more of the HPV types. Also, people who were long-term users of immunosuppressant drugs had more than a three-fold risk of squamous cell carcinoma in relation to HPV.
The researchers concluded that HPV infection increases the risk of skin cancer and the problem may become worse if the patient is on immunosuppressive drugs.
The most common skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) are increasing globally and ultraviolet radiation is the main established risk factor. HPV infection - of which there are more than 100 types - may play a role in their development. Other types of HPVs are known to cause cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, and penis.
Past studies have proved that HPV infection is associated with occurrence of skin cancer among organ transplant recipients and people with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) a rare genetic disorder that leads to warts and skin lesions. Researchers studied 2,366 American skin cancer patients and controls aged 25 to 74 years, to investigate the association between HPV and the incidence of skin cancer in the general population. They measured HPV antibodies in blood samples of newly diagnosed and confirmed basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma patients and matched population controls.
Results showed that people with several types of HPVs were more than one and a half times more likely to develop certain skin cancers than people with no HPVs. Squamous cell carcinoma, but not basal cell carcinoma, were far more likely to have each of the HPV types compared to people in the control group. The likelihood of having squamous cell carcinoma increased as people were found to have more of the HPV types. Also, people who were long-term users of immunosuppressant drugs had more than a three-fold risk of squamous cell carcinoma in relation to HPV.
The researchers concluded that HPV infection increases the risk of skin cancer and the problem may become worse if the patient is on immunosuppressive drugs.
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