Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) T-antigen seroreactivity, MCV DNA in eyebrow hairs, and squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The role of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) infection in the etiology of non-melanoma skin cancers, other than Merkel cell carcinoma, is unclear. Previously, we reported a significant association between seropositivity to MCV capsid antigen and MCV DNA-positive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Here we present associations between SCC and seroreactivity to MCV T-antigen (T-Ag) oncoprotein, as well as MCV DNA detected in eyebrow hairs.


RESULTS
A clinic-based case-control study, including 171 SCC cases and 300 controls without skin cancer, was conducted at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. Multiplex assays were used to measure serum antibodies against MCV small and large T-Ag and MCV DNA in both eyebrow hairs and SCC tumors (n = 144). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression to evaluate the associations between MCV and SCC. No significant association was observed between seroreactivity to MCV full-length large or small T-Ag and SCC, overall [ORlarge T-Ag = 0.99 (0.48-2.08), ORsmall T-Ag = 0.31 (0.06-1.62)] or when comparing tumor MCV DNA-positive cases to controls [ORlarge T-Ag = 1.06 (0.38-2.93)]. Only presence of MCV DNA in eyebrow hairs was significantly associated with MCV DNA-positive SCC [OR = 4.05 (2.01-8.18)].


CONCLUSIONS
MCV infection is unlikely to play a direct role in SCC.
Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
Shalaka S
SS
Hampras
Infection and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
Angelika
A
Michel
Infection and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany ; Present address: GATC Biotech AG, Constance, Germany.
Markus
M
Schmitt
Infection and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
Tim
T
Waterboer
Infection and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany ; Present address: Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), Langenbeckstrasse 1, Building 708, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Lena
L
Kranz
Infections and Cancer Biology Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer-World Health Organization, Lyon, 69372 France.
Tarik
T
Gheit
Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL USA.
Kate
K
Fisher
Cutaneous Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL USA.
Vernon K
VK
Sondak
Cutaneous Oncology Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL USA ; Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL USA ; Dermatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL USA.
Jane
J
Messina
Dermatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL USA ; Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL USA.
Neil
N
Fenske
Dermatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL USA ; Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL USA.
Basil
B
Cherpelis
Infections and Cancer Biology Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer-World Health Organization, Lyon, 69372 France.
Massimo
M
Tommasino
Infection and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
Michael
M
Pawlita
Department of Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612 USA.
Dana E
DE
Rollison
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; Eyebrow hairs; Merkel cell polyomavirus; T-Antigen