Monday, October 29, 2012

HPV Disease Not a Cause of Melanoma In This Study

 

Melanomas are on the rise, and one reason for this has begun to be investigated. HPV infections are known to cause a variety of both genital and oral cancers. Skin cancers have a variety of contributing factors including the amount of sun UV ray exposure, the health of your immune system, light skin color and certain precancerous skin diseases as well as the genetic background of the host. As it has been known that HPV as a virus that can exist in the skin layers researchers have been specifically looking at whether this could be a cause or perhaps co-factor in the development of cancer of the skin, including melanoma and malignant melanoma. In 2005 British researchers though they found a link between high risk HPV disease and melanomas.  French researchers are attempting to answer the question as prior studies haven't conclusively shown the answer one way or the other if there is any involvement of HPV in melanoma. The French study looked at one hundred patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma. They excised the disease and then looked at  68 different HPV types did not obtain more HPV in the skin of patients with or without the melanoma. In all about 40% of patients had HPV DNA that could be found in the skin. The researchers felt they could say they didn't see a role for HPV as a cause of melanoma, but confirm the previous data suggesting that HPV DNA is widely distributed among the population and that silent HPV infections patients are unaware of indeed are frequent. They feel there is more work to be done. It can be that specific types of HPV is linked to disease in a way we have not yet understood. Still we remind our patients, have us do a check if you have any new or changing skin lesions, and do come in for consultation regarding protection against UV ray exposure.