Background: The association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with cutaneous squamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs) has been described recently, but the frequency and spectrum of HPV types identified differed substantially in distinct studies.
Objective: Comparison of different PCR assays with respect to sensitivity and range of HPV types detected.
Method: Cutaneous SCC were analyzed for HPV DNA using both consensus PCR assays with degenerate primers and PCR assays with nondegenerate primers derived from HPV types 5 and 8.
Results: HPV DNA was found in 50% of SCC specimens using degenerate primers. The rate of HPV-DNA-positive specimens increased to 69% when PCR assays with nondegenerate primers were applied in addition. The spectrum of HPV types detected with each of the PCR assays differed considerably.
Conclusions: The frequency and spectrum of HPV types detected in cutaneous SCC strongly depends on the HPV detection system used and urges the need for standardization of HPV detection and typing in skin lesions in order to characterize HPV types predominating in distinct tumors.