A diagnosed HPV infection could be associated with a higher risk of subsequent skin cancer. People aged >40 years are particularly affected, according to Taiwanese researchers in their recent paper.
In a population-based, retrospective cohort study, researchers investigated the possible connection between an infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) and the risk of developing skin cancer. In addition to age, the time since HPV infection was also important.
In total, the cohort included about 27,000 people with newly diagnosed HPV infections. People without HPV detection functioned as a control group. The period of skin cancer data collection was between 2000 and 2012, and follow-up lasted either until the onset of skin cancer or until 2013 at the latest.
According to the results, the risk of skin cancer was 2.45 times higher for people with HPV infection than for non-infected people (adjusted HR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.44-4.18, p < 0.01). The subgroup analysis also showed that skin cancer risk was increased especially when the patients were already older than 40 years of age.
The risk of skin cancer was significantly higher especially in the first 5 years after HPV diagnosis (adjusted HR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.58-5.54). In addition, the risk of cancer was significantly increased for both melanoma (adjusted HR = 17.1; 95% CI: 1.88-156) and non-melanoma (adjusted HR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.16-3.65) when HPV infection was detected.
Human papillomaviruses primarily infect areas of the skin and mucous membranes. Especially for women's health, some of these viruses play an important role in tumour development, e.g. in cervical carcinoma. However, boys and men can also develop HPV-induced penile and anal carcinomas as well as oral and pharyngeal carcinomas. The role of HP viruses in skin cancer has been little studied.
However, the present study showed that infections with cancer-inducing human papillomaviruses can also be associated with skin cancer. A significantly higher risk exists especially for patients aged >40 years with an HPV infection within the last five years before diagnosis.
The study authors recommend that especially older patients at risk of skin cancer should be made aware of HPV and, especially in the case of a cancer diagnosis, that the tumours be properly characterised.
Although there has been a very effective HPV vaccination for 9-year-old boys and girls for some years, this is usually no longer useful for older patients and is no longer subsidised by health insurance funds. Therefore, HPV prevention and treatment also play a major role for older patients.
Source:
Chen M-L et al, The Impact of Human Papillomavirus Infection on Skin Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study The Oncologist 2021; 26: e473-e483