Human papillomavirus and widespread cutaneous carcinoma after PUVA photochemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Oral psoralen with UV-A (PUVA) photochemotherapy is known to cause cutaneous malignancies and has been associated with cutaneous immunosuppression. Human papillomavirus infection has also been associated with cutaneous malignancies and with immunosuppressed individuals. We therefore sought evidence of human papillomavirus infection in a patient with a long history of PUVA therapy and multiple cutaneous malignancies.


METHODS
During a 15-year period, an otherwise healthy patient with psoriasis who had undergone a 10-year course of PUVA photochemotherapy developed 13 squamous cell carcinomas, eight lesions diagnosed as "squamous cell carcinoma vs keratoacanthoma," 14 other keratoacanthomas, six basal cell carcinomas, one melanoma in situ, and 18 other keratinocytic dysplasias. Twenty-two of the 30 lesions tested for human papillomavirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction were positive for type 16/18, including six of the seven basal or squamous cell carcinomas tested.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that PUVA therapy-induced immunosuppression may play an important role in PUVA-related carcinogenesis by affecting the extent and pathogenicity of human papillomavirus infection.
Weinstock
M A
MA
Dermatoepidemiology Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA.
Coulter
S
S
Bates
J
J
Bogaars
H A
HA
Larson
P L
PL
Burmer
G C
GC
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000821:virology*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000821:virology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007636:Keratoacanthoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000821:virology*; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000821:virology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000821:virology*; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology
D011564:Furocoumarins