Viruses and Skin Cancer

Abstract

Advances in virology and skin cancer over recent decades have produced achievements that have been recognized not only in the field of dermatology, but also in other areas of medicine. They have modified the therapeutic and preventive solutions that can be offered to some patients and represent a significant step forward in our knowledge of the biology of skin cancer. In this paper, we review the viral agents responsible for different types of skin cancer, especially for solid skin tumors. We focus on human papillomavirus and squamous cell cancers, Merkel cell polyomavirus and Merkel cell carcinoma, and human herpesvirus 8 and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Keywords: HPV; Kaposi’s sarcoma; Merkel cell carcinoma; cervical cancer; cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Figure 1

Human papillomavirus and cutaneous squamous cell dysplasia. (A) HPV genome and structure. (B) HPV infective cycle, which is associated with the differentiation process of the keratinocytes. (C) Bowen’s disease, which is a type of cutaneous squamous cell dysplasia: 1 shows the clinical aspect of a lesion, which consists of an erythematous plaque located on the first finger of one patient; 2 displays the histopathological aspect of Bowen’s disease; hyperkeratosis is evident, acanthosis with prominent dysplasia difficult to observe with this 40× magnification; 3 shows pan-cytokeratin staining; and 4 displays the p16 staining, which is associated with HPV infection. Bowen’s disease and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma located on the fingers are related to HPV infection. All the schemes and photographs were generated and provided by authors. To generate (A,B), BioRender was used.

Figure 2

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). (A) MCPyV genome. (B) Proteins expressed by MCPyV. (C) Pictures 1 and 2 show examples of rapidly growing erythematous nodular lesions on the sun-exposed skin of elderly patients, consistent with Merkel cell carcinomas; 3–5 display the H&E aspect of MCC, in which polygonal blue cells are arranged in lobules with scattered mitosis; 6–8 show negative TTF1, as well as positive CK20 and chromogranin. All the schemes and photographs were generated and provided by authors. To generate (A,B), BioRender was used.

Figure 3

Human herpesvirus 8 and Kaposi’s sarcoma: (A) Scheme of HHV8. (B–D) The clinical aspect of Kaposi’s sarcoma, consistent with erythematous nodules located in the trunk of an HIV+ male (B) and in the foot of an elderly woman (C,D). (E) The H&E aspect. (F) The positive stain for HHV8. All the photographs were generated and provided by the authors.