Demonstration of Human Papillomavirus Type 16-Related DNA and Absence of Detectable p53 Gene Mutations in Widespread Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas After Oral Psoralen With UV-A Treatment

In extragenital cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) p53 mutations have been demonstrated in more than 50% of all analyzed specimens.¹ Abrogation of p53 function can also occur via complex formation with the E6 protein of mucosotropic oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) such as HPV 16. The DNAs of HPV 16 and related HPVs are frequently found in SCCs of the genital tract and in digital SCCs, but they can only rarely be demonstrated in extragenital cutaneous SCCs from sites other than the fingers.²

Report of a Case.  We report the case of a 78-year-old woman with psoriasis and with multiple SCCs. Oral psoralen with UV-A (PUVA) therapy with systemic 8-methoxypsoralen was started at the age of 65 years. Since 1986, when the patient was 71 years old, she developed several skin tumors that were excised or treated with x-rays (50 Gy on both forearms, chest, lumbar triangle