Although sunlight exposure is known to increase the risk of developing skin cancer, researchers have also discovered that people are more likely to develop non-melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), if they have antibodies for cutaneous types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

The study, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, was conducted by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida and the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.

Lead author of the study Dana E. Rollison, Ph.D., Moffitt associate member, vice president and chief health information officer, explained:

“UV radiation exposure is the most important risk factor for the development of non-melanoma skin cancers. Causes of non-melanoma skin cancers are increasing despite the increased use of sunscreen products. Thus, so that new interventions can be developed, there is a need to identify co-factors that may interact with UV radiation exposure in increasing the skin cancer risk.”

The researchers note that UV radiation exposure, male sex, light skin, eyes and hair, are all risk factors for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Individuals with light skin pigmentation have low melanin production, thus making it difficult for them to tan when exposed to UV radiation.

According to the researchers, “skin pigmentation, created by chemical melanin production in the skin, is the “main photoprotective mechanism in the skin.”

The team believed that HPV infection may interfere with how a person responds to UV radiation-induced DNA damage, thus influencing tumor progression. Furthermore, they hypothesized that HPV is involved with the development of BCC and SCC.

The researchers aim for the study was to study the potential “modifying effects of cutaneous HPV seroreactivity on the associations between sunlight exposure, host susceptibility to UV radiation exposure, and both BCC and SCC.”

657 people participated in the study – 204 patients with BCC, 156 with SCC, and 297 individual’s without cancer. A blood sample was taken from each participant for cutaneous HPV antibody measurement. In addition, all study participants filled out a questionnaire on sunlight exposure, lifestyle factors, demographics, and personal constitutional characteristics.

Rollison explained:

“Sun-related factors were associated with BCC and SCC. Cutaneous sensitivity to sunlight exposure – specifically experiencing a blistering sunburn – and poor tanning ability were associated with a higher prevalence of antibodies to cutaneous HPV types in genus beta. The associations between poor tanning ability and SCC were significantly greater among those positive for antibodies to cutaneous HPV types in genera alpha and beta.”

However, the researchers state that further studies are required in order to measure infection with cutaneous HPV types in multiple genera.

Rollison concluded:

“Identifying how HPV infections might influence sunlight-associated risks of NMSC may lead to improved identification of high-risk individual’s and also aid in the development of new prevention strategies.”

Written by Grace Rattue