BACKGROUND: Cutaneous human papillomaviruses (HPVs) may be associated with cutaneous epithelial lesions and non-melanoma skin cancers.
No study has systematically evaluated the presence of genus beta [β]-HPV in male genital skin or external genital lesions (EGLs)
OBJECTIVES: To examine cutaneous β-HPV types detected on the surface of EGLs in men and describe their presence prior to EGL development.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series was conducted among 69 men with pathologically confirmed EGLs (n=72) who participated in the HPV Infection in Men Study. Archived exfoliated cells collected from the surface of each EGL and normal genital skin specimens 6-12 months preceding EGL development were tested for β-HPV DNA using a type-specific multiplex genotyping assay.
RESULTS: β-HPV DNA was detected on 61.1% of all EGLs, with types 38 (16.7%), 5 (15.3%), and 12 (12.5%) most commonly identified. HPV prevalence differed across pathological diagnoses, with the largest number of β-HPV types detected on condylomas. Most β-HPV types were detected on normal genital skin prior to EGL development, though the prevalence was lower on EGLs compared to preceding normal genital skin.
CONCLUSIONS: EGLs and the normal genital skin of men harbor a large number of β-HPV types; however, it appears that β-HPVs are unrelated to EGL development in men. Despite evidence to support a causal role in skin carcinogenesis at UVR-exposed sites, cutaneous HPV appears unlikely to cause disease at the UVR-unexposed genitals.
Written by:
Pierce Campbell CM, Messina JL, Stoler MH, Jukic DM, Tommasino M, Gheit T, Rollison DE, Sichero L, Sirak BA, Ingles DJ, Abrahamsen M, Lu B, Villa LL, Lazcano-Ponce E, Giuliano AR. Are you the author?
Center for Infection Research in Cancer, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
Reference: J Clin Virol. 2013 Oct 16. pii: S1386-6532(13)00430-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2013.10.011
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24210970
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