Frequency and spectrum of HPV types detected in cutaneous squamous-cell carcinomas depend on the HPV detection system: A comparison of four PCR assays

Background: The association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with cutaneous sq uamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs) has been described recently, but the frequenc y and spectrum of HPV types identified differed substantially in distinct s tudies. Objective: Comparison of different PCR assays with respect to sensi tivity and range of HPV types detected. Method: Cutaneous SCC were analyzed for HPV DNA using both consensus PCR assays with degenerate primers and PC R assays with nondegenerate primers derived from HPV types 5 and 8. Results : HPV DNA was found in 50% of SCC specimens using degenerate primers. The r ate of HPV-DNA-positive specimens increased to 69% when PCR assays with non degenerate primers were applied in addition. The spectrum of HPV types dete cted with each of the PCR assays differed considerably. Conclusions: The fr equency and spectrum of HPV types detected in cutaneous SCC strongly depend s on the HPV detection system used and urges the need for standardization o f HPV detection and typing in skin lesions in order to characterize HPV typ es predominating in distinct tumors, Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel .