A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that a common type of human papillomavirus (HPV) found on the skin can directly cause a form of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). The virus was shown to integrate into the DNA of skin cells and produce viral proteins, leading to the creation of cancer cells in people with defective immune systems.
The study focused on a 34-year-old woman who had been experiencing recurring cSCC on her forehead. Her doctors believed that she had an inherited inability to repair DNA damaged by UV radiation, combined with an impairment in immune cells called T cells. However, further genetic analysis revealed that the beta-HPV was directly causing the cancer.
Researchers discovered that the woman’s immune disorder was responsible for the spread of the virus and the development of cSCC. To treat this condition, a stem cell transplant was performed to replace her defective T cells with healthy ones. The treatment was successful in resolving all her HPV-related diseases, including the recurrent cSCC.
This groundbreaking discovery has significant implications for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in people with compromised immune systems. It suggests that there may be more people at risk who have an underlying immune defect and could benefit from targeted treatments. The study’s findings highlight the importance of considering HPV as a potential cause of skin cancer, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems.
Source: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/beta-hpv-can-directly-cause-skin-cancer-immunocompromised-people