Posttransplant skin cancer: a possible role for p53 gene mutation but not for oncogenic human papillomaviruses.
BACKGROUND
Loss of p53 tumor suppressor function is a critical step in the development of diverse malignancies, including skin cancers in nonimmunosuppressed patients where UV-specific p53 gene mutations have been identified. In tumors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), such as cervical carcinoma, p53 may be inactivated instead by binding to a viral oncoprotein.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to examine the hypothesis that HPV may play an analogous role in the development of posttransplant skin cancer.


METHODS
p53 Immunoreactivity, suggestive of p53 gene mutation, was examined by immunocytochemistry. Oncogenic HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Comparable p53 immunoreactivity was seen in skin tumors from both transplant and nontransplant patients. HPV DNA was not demonstrated in any tumor specimen.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data do not implicate oncogenic HPV in posttransplant skin cancer. p53 Gene mutation, rather than HPV-induced p53 degradation, may be more significant in the development of these tumors.
McGregor
J M
JM
Department of Dermatology, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Farthing
A
A
Crook
T
T
Yu
C C
CC
Dublin
E A
EA
Levison
D A
DA
MacDonald
D M
DM
D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007636:Keratoacanthoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D007642:Keratosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53