A type of human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically beta-HPV, may be more harmful than previously believed. While it was once thought to only contribute to skin cancer by exacerbating UV damage in rare instances, recent findings suggest it can actively manipulate the body’s cells to promote cancer growth directly.
This insight stems from a case involving a 34-year-old woman who sought treatment for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) on her forehead. Even after undergoing immunotherapy and multiple surgeries, her tumors kept recurring.
A detailed genetic examination revealed that beta-HPV had integrated into the tumor’s DNA, creating viral proteins that supported the cancer’s survival.
Previously, there was no evidence of beta-HPV integrating into cellular DNA or sustaining cancer in this manner.
“This implies that there may be others with aggressive cSCC who have an immune deficiency and could benefit from immune-targeting therapies,” notes immunologist Andrea Lisco from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The woman in this study had a hereditary immune disorder that hindered her T cells from combating HPV.
Tests indicated that while her immune system could repair UV-induced DNA damage — the usual trigger for cSCC — her T cell dysfunction allowed beta-HPV to invade skin cells and lead to cancer development.
Interestingly, this woman was also dealing with other HPV-related issues, including skin and oral warts.
Upon discovering the underlying cause, she underwent a bone marrow stem cell transplant to replace her faulty T cells with healthy ones. This intervention effectively cleared the aggressive skin cancer and her other HPV-related problems, which did not return in three years of follow-up.
“This breakthrough wouldn’t have been achievable without the combined skills of virologists, immunologists, oncologists, and transplant experts working together,” Lisco adds.
While this study doesn’t downplay UV radiation’s role in skin cancer, it highlights that other factors can also contribute. In unique situations like this, typically harmless viruses can prove lethal for those with compromised immune systems.
This underscores the necessity for targeted, personalized cancer treatments that may be more effective than standard methods. It seems this woman is not an isolated case.
On a more hopeful note, advancements against a related virus, alpha-HPV, linked to numerous cervical and throat cancers, have led to a significant decrease in mortality rates due to vaccination efforts.
Although a universal cancer cure remains out of reach, consistent improvements in survival and recovery rates across various cancer types, including cSCC, are evident, and this research is likely to contribute to that progress.
“This finding could fundamentally change our understanding of how cSCC develops and its treatment in individuals with compromised immune function,” Lisco remarks.
The findings have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
