Circulating soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis as compared to patients with cutaneous tumours in the general population.

Soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors type I and II (sTNF-RI and II) were evaluated in sera from patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis and patients with cutaneous warts, actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinomas or basal cell carcinomas by specific enzyme-linked immunobiological assays. In patients with widespread epidermodysplasia verruciformis lesions, the levels of both sTNF-Rs were in normal range. Both types of sTNF-Rs were significantly increased in patients with warts. The levels of sTNF-RI were significantly increased in patients with multiple actinic keratoses, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Increased levels of circulating sTNF-Rs may facilitate development of cutaneous tumours. Normal levels of sTNF-Rs in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis might, at least partially, contribute to a slow growth and low metastatic potential of cancers in these patients.