title: Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen is detected in rare cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) other than Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) produced controversial results. Therefore, we studied the prevalence of MCPyV in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue specimens were analyzed for the presence of MCPyV DNA by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of MCPyV large T protein was determined by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCPyV DNA was frequently detected in skin cancers by PCR, in 36 of 88 BCCs, in 21 of 75 SCCs and in 10 of 47 normal skin samples. In BCC, a significant difference in the detection rate compared to normal skin was observed. In contrast, weak reactivity for MCPyV large T antigen was detected only sporadically in immunosuppressed patients (2 of 88 BCCs, 1 of 75 SCCs). Mutations of the large T antigen of MCPyV were more frequently observed in MCC than in BCC/SCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the frequent detection of the MCPyV genome in NMSC by PCR reflects ubiquitous spread of the virus. However, the low immunohistochemical detection rate of MCPyV and the lack of MCC-specific MCPyV mutations argue against an essential role of MCPyV in the development of skin cancers other than MCC.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathologie, Kantonsspital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kirsten D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mertz
authors.forename: Aino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paasinen
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Offner
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Willi
authors.forename: Gieri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cathomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059965:Merkel cell polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor