Posttransplant skin cancer: a possible role for p53 gene mutation but not for oncogenic human papillomaviruses.

BACKGROUND

Loss of p53 tumor suppressor function is a critical step in the development of diverse malignancies, including skin cancers in nonimmunosuppressed patients where UV-specific p53 gene mutations have been identified. In tumors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), such as cervical carcinoma, p53 may be inactivated instead by binding to a viral oncoprotein.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to examine the hypothesis that HPV may play an analogous role in the development of posttransplant skin cancer.

METHODS

p53 Immunoreactivity, suggestive of p53 gene mutation, was examined by immunocytochemistry. Oncogenic HPV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Comparable p53 immunoreactivity was seen in skin tumors from both transplant and nontransplant patients. HPV DNA was not demonstrated in any tumor specimen.

CONCLUSION

Our data do not implicate oncogenic HPV in posttransplant skin cancer. p53 Gene mutation, rather than HPV-induced p53 degradation, may be more significant in the development of these tumors.