ABSENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMAS OF NONGENITAL SKIN FROM IMMUNOCOMPROMISED RENAL-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

Background and Design: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is accepted as a fac tor in the pathogenesis of genital squamous cell carcinomas. The incid ences of both HPV infection and squamous cell carcinoma are increased in immunocompromised renal transplantation patients. The purpose of th is study was to determine if HPV DNA is present in squamous cell carci nomas of nongenital skin in immunosuppressed patients. Amplification o f HPV DNA was performed using the polymerase chain reaction. The sensi tivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction was assessed o n 19 positive and six negative control specimens. Twenty genital squam ous cell carcinomas from nonimmunocompromised patients and 28 nongenit al squamous cell carcinomas from renal transplantation patients were t hen analyzed. Results: Human papillomavirus DNA was identified in 18 o f 19 positive control specimens and zero of six negative control speci mens. Human papillomavirus DNA was identified in four of 20 genital Sq uamous cell carcinoma specimens. In comparison, no HPV DNA was identif ied in 28 nongenital squamous cell carcinomas from immunosuppressed ho sts (Fisher's Exact Test, P<.025). Conclusions: These findings support a role for HPV in genital skin cancers and suggest that HPV does not play a role in the increased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma in r enal transplantation patients.