Frequency of mucosal HPV DNA detection (types 6/11, 16/18, 31/35/51) in skin lesions of renal transplant patients.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) probably play a role in the development of skin cancer in renal transplant recipients. Since some mucosal HPV are strongly related to cervical cancer, we compared the frequency of HPV DNA detection (mucosal types 6/11, 16/18, and 31/33/51) in skin cancer of renal transplant recipients (21 lesions) with that in normal subjects without immunodeficiency (21 lesions) and studied the frequency of these same HPV in benign lesions of renal transplant recipients (34 lesions) and normal subjects (30 lesions). An in situ hybridization technique employing cold biotin probes was used. HPV DNA was not significantly (P = 0.095) more frequent in malignant skin cancer in renal transplant recipients (42.9%) than in normal subjects (19.04%), but was significantly more frequent in benign lesions in renal transplant recipients (32.4%) than in controls (10%; P < 0.05). These results on a limited number of skin lesions do not allow one to confirm the predominant role of mucosal HPV in the development of skin cancer in renal transplant recipients. HPV interaction with other factors related to the immunosuppressive state may play a role.