title: The molecular fingerprint of human papillomavirus infection and its effect on the Langerhans cell population in squamous cell carcinomas of the genital skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Information is scarce about the presence of molecular alterations related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in squamous cell carcinomas of the genital skin and about the effect of this infection in the number of Langerhans cells present in these tumors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the presence of HPV in genital skin squamous cell carcinomas and to see the relationship between HPV infection and changes in the expression of Ki-67 antigen (Ki-67), p53 protein (p53), retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and E-cadherin and to alterations in Langerhans cell density, if any.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, comparative, retrospective and cross-sectional study was performed with all the cases diagnosed as squamous cell carcinomas of the genital skin at the Dermatopathology Service from 2001 to 2011. The diagnosis was verified by histopathological examination. The presence of HPV was examined using chromogenic in situ hybridization, and protein expression was studied via immunohistochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 34 cases studied were verified as squamous cell carcinomas and 44.1% were HPV positive. The degree of expression of pRb was 17.50% ±14.11% (mean ± SD) in HPV-positive cases and 29.74% ±20.38% in HPV-negative cases (P = 0.0236). The degree of expression of Ki-67 was 47.67% ±30.64% in HPV-positive cases and 29.87% ±15.95% in HPV-negative cases (P = 0.0273).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPV infection was related to lower pRb expression and higher Ki-67 expression in comparison with HPV negative samples. We could not find a relationship between HPV infection and the degree of expression of p53 and E-cadherin or with Langerhans cell density.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology and Pathology of the Panamanian Social Security (Caja de Seguro Social) and San Fernando Hospital (Clinica Hospital San Fernando), Panama City, Panama; Postgraduate studies and Research Section, Superior School of Medicine, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico, .
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rios-Yuil
authors.forename: Norma E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Herrera-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Faisal
authors.forename: Eleazar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lara-Padilla
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mercadillo-Perez
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Moreno-Lopez
authors.forename: Alejandro K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Marquez-Ramirez
authors.forename: Azael
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saldana-Patino
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rubio-Gayosso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005834:Genital Neoplasms, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult