Skin autografts in epidermodysplasia verruciformis: human papillomavirus-associated cutaneous changes need over 20 years for malignant conversion

Cancer Res. 1997 Oct 1;57(19):4214-6.

Abstract

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is regarded as a model for cutaneous oncogenesis associated with specific human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Because genital HPV-associated carcinogenesis is a very long-lasting process requiring 20-30 years and epidemiological studies of this type for HPV-associated skin cancers are impossible in such a rare disease as EV, we observed for up to 20 years EV patients having surgery for carcinomas with consecutive autografts from uninvolved and non-sun-exposed skin. We noticed the appearance of premalignant and malignant changes around the grafts, whereas within the grafted skin, only benign macular lesions started to develop several years after transplantation. Thus, skin HPV-associated carcinogenesis appears to be a very slow process comparable to the genital carcinogenesis associated with high risk HPVs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Cell Transformation, Viral
  • Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis / pathology
  • Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis / surgery*
  • Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis / virology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomaviridae / pathogenicity*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / surgery*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Precancerous Conditions / surgery*
  • Precancerous Conditions / virology
  • Skin Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Transplantation / pathology*
  • Time Factors
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Tumor Virus Infections / pathology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / surgery*
  • Tumor Virus Infections / virology