Characteristics of the lesions and risk of malignant conversion associated with the type of human papillomavirus involved in epidermodysplasia verruciformis
Orth, G.; Jablonska, S.; Jarzabek-Chorzelska, M.; Obalek, S.; Rzesa, G.; Favre, M.; Croissant, O.
Cancer Research 39(3): 1074-1082
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-5472 PMID: 218721 Document Number: 145034
Patients (14) with epidermodysplasia verruciformis were studied to correlate the type of human papillomavirus (HPV) found in benign lesions to their clinical aspects and to the course of the disease; 9 patients were familial cases and 6 had carcinomas. The type of the virus was determined by the RNA-DNA filter hybridization technique, using complementary RNA transcribed from the DNA of the 4 types of HPV previously identified, and by immunofluorescence studies, using antisera specific for the 4 types of viruses. HPV type 3 was found in 7 patients presenting lesions of only the verruca plana type. These cases were mostly stationary or abortive and showed no malignant conversion. HPV type 4 was detected in 4 patients with lesions of different types: very flat, often reddish warts; reddish plaques; and pityriasis versicolor-like pigmented or achromic plaques. All these patients showed cancers. Both types of viruses were found in 2 patients: HPV type 3 in flat wart-like lesions and, for 1 patient, in large confluent pigmented plaques and HPV type 4 in reddish or pityriasis versicolor-like plaques. One of these patients had early malignant lesions (Bowen's disease), and the other had multiple carcinomas. For 1 patient, the type of virus could not be identified because of an insufficient amount of material. These results point to the role of virus in the pathogenesis of epidermodysplasia verruciformis, together with genetic and immunological factors. Different oncogenic potentials for viruses involved in the disease are suggested.