title: Detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus and human papillomavirus DNA in porocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing evidences support the role of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) in non-cutaneous and cutaneous tumours. Porocarcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that arises from the intraepidermal ductal portion of the eccrine sweat glands. The aetiology of porocarcinoma is largely unknown and no systematic studies have been done to investigate the implication of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of this tumour.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible association between MCPyV and/or HPV infection and porocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) porocarcinomas (40 primary and 4 metastatic) and 10 healthy skin specimens (controls), were analysed for the presence of MCPyV and HPV DNA using molecular detection methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCPyV DNA was found in 27/40 (68%) primary porocarcinomas and in 3/10 (30%) controls (Fisher exact test: p<0.04). No significant difference in viral load was observed between tumours and healthy skin. Moreover, 2/40 primary porocarcinomas tested positive for high-risk HPV16. Cutaneous beta-HPV infection was detected in 16/40 (40%) porocarcinomas and in 6/10 (60%) controls. No particular beta-HPV types were significantly associated with tumour or with healthy skin. Two out of 4 metastatic biopsies were MCPyV DNA positive. All metastatic samples had mixed infections with cutaneous HPV types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated a significantly high prevalence of MCPyV and the presence of a broad spectrum of HPV types in porocarcinoma and provided the first available data about viral infections in this tumour. To understand the role, if any, of viral infections in the pathogenesis of porocarcinoma further studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Dermatopathology Section-S. M. Annunziata Hospital, AUSL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierucci
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sollai
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arvia
authors.affiliation: Division of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Massi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy. Electronic address: krystyna.zakrzewska@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zakrzewska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D057090:Eccrine Porocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059965:Merkel cell polyomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Adnexal carcinoma; Human papillomavirus; Merkel cell polyomavirus; Porocarcinoma