Case-control study of cutaneous human papillomavirus infection in Basal cell carcinoma of the skin

J Invest Dermatol. 2013 Jun;133(6):1512-20. doi: 10.1038/jid.2012.478. Epub 2013 Jan 10.

Abstract

Genus-β human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA has been detected in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumors, but most epidemiologic studies have not observed associations between genus-β HPV seropositivity and BCC. A clinic-based case-control study was conducted to investigate cutaneous HPV infection in BCC. BCC cases (n=224) were recruited from a dermatology clinic, and controls (n=300) were patients who were screened negative for skin cancer. Antibodies against cutaneous HPV types in genera α, β, γ, mu, and nu were measured, and tumors from a subset of BCC cases (n=195) were tested for HPV DNA. Overall associations were observed between BCC and seropositivity for HPV types in genus-α (odds ratio (OR)=1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.11-2.35), γ (OR=1.78; 95% CI=1.22-2.60), and mu (OR=1.56; 95% CI=1.06-2.30). BCC cases with β-HPV DNA in their tumors were more likely to be β-HPV seropositive than controls (OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.03-3.01), with type-specific associations observed for HPV8 and HPV23, whereas no association was observed between β-HPV seropositivity and β-HPV DNA-negative BCC. No concordance between seropositivity and tumor DNA status was observed for HPV types in genera α and γ. In conclusion, the combined serology and tumor DNA results suggest that β HPV types may have a role in BCC. Additional studies of BCC that assess HPV types in multiple genera are needed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alphapapillomavirus / genetics
  • Alphapapillomavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Betapapillomavirus / genetics
  • Betapapillomavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / virology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Female
  • Gammapapillomavirus / genetics
  • Gammapapillomavirus / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mupapillomavirus / genetics
  • Mupapillomavirus / isolation & purification
  • Papillomavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / virology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA, Viral