In addition to their role in anogenital cancer, human papillomaviruses (HPV
s) are also involved in the development of a range of cutaneous lesions. HP
V types 5 and 8 are associated with the development of skin cancers in indi
viduals with Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). A broad spectrum of NPV
types are also commonly found in non-melanoma skin cancers in immunocomprom
ised individuals, such as organ transplant recipients. The skin cancers in
EV and immunocompromised patients occur predominantly at body sites exposed
to ultra violet (UV) radiation, pointing to a key role for UV in their dev
elopment, Here rye show that the E6 protein from a range of cutaneous NPV t
ypes effectively inhibits apoptosis in response to UV damage, This occurs i
n both p53 null and wild type cells and does not require p53 degradation.