PREVALENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE 16-RELATED DNA IN CUTANEOUS BOWENS-DISEASE AND SQUAMOUS-CELL CANCER

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 and related types are frequently fo und in genital located Bowen's disease but they are only rarely identi fied in non-genital cutaneous Bowen's disease and squamous cell cancer (SCC). We used the polymerase chain reaction to detect HPV 16 and rel ated DNA sequences in 205 formalin-fixed non-genital cutaneous Bowen's disease and SCC specimens from 159 non-immunosuppressed patients. HPV 16 and related DNA sequences could be detected in 12 of 198 cutaneous specimens from extra-genital sites other than the fingers and in 2 of 7 specimens from digital lesions. Our study suggests a minor but stil l not negligible role of HPV 16 and related HPV-types in the etiology of non-genital non-melanoma skin cancer of the general population.