Mucosal human papillomavirus detection and TP53 immunohistochemical expression in non‐melanoma skin cancer in Tunisian patients

• Published in: Journal of cutaneous pathology 2019-08, Vol.46 (8), p.591-598
• Main Authors: Ben Ayed, Ines, Tounsi, Haifa, Jaballah, Amira, Ardhaoui, Monia, Maaloul, Afifa, Lassili, Thalja, Mezghani, Najla, Abdelhak, Sonia, Boubaker, Samir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Basal cell carcinoma; Biopsy; Carcinogenesis; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Genotyping; HPV16‐E6s; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomavirus 16; Human papillomavirus 16 - metabolism; Humans; Hybridization; Immunohistochemistry; Life Sciences; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Mucosa; mucosal human papillomavirus; Multivariate analysis; non‐melanoma skin cancer; Oncogene Proteins, Viral; Oncogene Proteins, Viral - biosynthesis; p53 Protein; Papillomavirus Infections; Papillomavirus Infections - epidemiology; Papillomavirus Infections - metabolism; Papillomavirus Infections - pathology; Repressor Proteins; Repressor Proteins - biosynthesis; Skin cancer; Skin Neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - virology; Squamous cell carcinoma; TP53; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - biosynthesis; Tunisia; Tunisia - epidemiology; Tunisian
• ISSN: 0303-6987; 1600-0560
• DOI: 10.1111/cup.13473

Background Several studies have reported the oncogenic role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in non‐melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) carcinogenesis. Considering that HPV could affect tumor protein 53 (TP53) degradation via E6 oncoprotein, we evaluated the expression of TP53 according to HPV infection and E6 expression. Methods Biopsy specimens from 79 NMSCs (28 squamous cell carcinomas, 21 keratoacanthomas and 30 basal cell carcinomas) were enrolled. Nested PCR was used to detect mucosal HPV (mHPV) DNA. Genotyping was performed by reverse line hybridization. Expression of TP53 and E6 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results mHPVs were detected in 34.2% (27/79) of NMSC, with 92.6% (25/27) of high‐risk HPV (HR‐HPV) types. HPV16‐E6‐positive expression was observed in all HPV16‐positive samples. TP53 high expression was found in 51.4% (37/72) of specimens. In this group, 78.4% were HPV‐negative (P = 0.014). TP53 expression was negative in 8/10 of HPV E6‐positive specimens. Multivariate analysis showed that TP53 was associated with HPV infection independently of histopathologic type (P = 0.005). Conclusion This study showed a high prevalence of mHPV in NMSC. Active infections assessed by E6 expression are associated with loss of p53 function, highlighting the involvement of mHPV in NMSC carcinogenesis.