NIH
Beta-HPV can cause skin cancer in immunocompromised people
Researchers at NIH have shown that beta-human papillomavirus (beta-HPV), typically considered a benign component of the skin microbiome, can directly cause cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) when T-cell function is impaired. In a 34-year-old patient with recurrent cSCC and an inherited immune disorder, beta-HPV was found integrated into the tumor’s DNA and actively producing viral proteins—contradicting the prevailing view that beta-HPV doesn't integrate into skin-cell DNA or sustain cancer. Genetic analysis confirmed the patient’s cells could repair UV-induced DNA damage, indicating the virus alone was responsible for tumor development. The findings were published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The patient’s immune disorder severely limited T-cell activation against beta-HPV, allowing unchecked viral replication and disease progression. NIH investigators treated her with a stem cell transplant to restore T-cell function. Following the transplant, all HPV-related diseases—including aggressive, recurrent cSCC—resolved and haven't recurred in over three years. This case suggests that individuals with defective T-cell responses may be susceptible to beta-HPV–driven cancers and could benefit from immune-targeted therapies.
Source:
(2025, July 30). NIH. Beta-HPV can directly cause skin cancer in immunocompromised people. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/beta-hpv-can-directly-cause-skin-cancer-immunocompromised-people