About this Research Topic
The proposed mechanisms of carcinogenesis indicate that beta HPV play a role in tumor initiation and progression, but are not necessary for tumor maintenance. A next-generation sequencing approach quite recently showed the genus gamma HPV197 to be commonly present in skin tumors. Proteomic analysis of its E6 and E7 associated cellular proteins revealed interesting candidates well known for oncogenic and tumor suppressor activities. This may indicate that gamma HPV deserve more attention than given in the past. Attempts are on the way to further elucidate oncogenic mechanisms and develop preventive and therapeutic vaccines against skin cancer and its precursors, including the use of animal models of infection. Two human polyomaviruses are currently linked to malignant and benign skin tumors.
The Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) has been identified in and cloned from Merkel cell carcinoma, a rather rare but very aggressive skin cancer with a high mortality rate. It is a cancer of the elderly and its incidence is strongly increased in immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant recipients and HIV-infected people. The Trichodysplasia spinulosa Polyomavirus (TSPyV) causes a very rare but rather disfiguring benign proliferative skin disease only in severely immunocompromised patients. For this virus there is a promising perspective of successful antiviral treatment. In summary, the project would deal with widely distributed cutaneous viruses from the families Papilloma- and Polyomaviridae, which are able to establish life-long persisting infections. These infections are frequently clinically inapparent in the general population but may give rise to skin cancer following immunosenescence in the aging skin and especially in the immunocompromised host. Loss of control in the context of immunosuppression dramatically increases the skin cancer incidence and leads to an eminent medical problem. The prospects of preventive vaccination currently raise considerable interest in public health institutions.
Keywords: Papillomaviruses, Polyomaviruses, Skin Cancer, pathogen
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.