Latest news with #AndreaLisco
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Oral sex could increase your risk of SKIN cancer – the 3 ways to protect yourself
One of the most common STIs in the UK, spread through oral sex, has been linked to the disease - find out how you know you have it below STEALTH INFECTION Oral sex could increase your risk of SKIN cancer – the 3 ways to protect yourself Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCIENTISTS have discovered a new cause of skin cancer - and it's linked to oral sex. Human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK, is primarily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, including oral sex. 3 HPV is primarily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity Credit: Getty 3 It's previously been linked to increased risk of several cancers, including anal, head and neck, throat, penile cancer and cervical cancer. But now, US researchers say the virus could also cause a deadly form of skin cancer - squamous cell carcinoma. Scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discovered the link after a 34-year-old woman was referred to the clinic. She presented with 43 spots of the skin cancer on her face, hands and legs. But while she had surgery to remove them, as well as immunotherapy, the cancer returned. Doctors first suspected sun damage and a weak immune system, but later found the beta-HPV virus had inserted into her skin cells' DNA and was producing viral proteins, taking control of the cells. Dr Andrea Lisco, a virologist who led the study, said: "This discovery could completely change how we think about the development, and consequently the treatment, of [skin cancer] in people who have a health condition that compromises immune function. "It suggests that there may be more people out there with aggressive forms of [skin cancer] who have underlying immune defect and could benefit from treatments targeting the immune system." The woman in the case report was found to have a genetic condition that weakened her T-cells (a type of immune cell), leaving her unable to fight off the virus. Doctors treated her with a stem cell transplant to restore her immune system. Urgent health alert as most sexually active will get cancer causing virus at some point in life Three years later, her skin cancer hadn't returned, and other HPV-related complications, such as growths on her tongue and skin, had disappeared. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and are preliminary, only suggesting a potential link between HPV and skin cancer. Three ways to protect yourself from HPV The most effective way to protect yourself from HPV is to get the HPV vaccine. Additionally, practising safe sex, such as using condoms, and getting regular screenings can further reduce the risk of infection and potential health problems. HPV vaccination In the UK, the vaccine is routinely offered to children aged 12 to 13, but is also available for older individuals who may have missed it, especially those at higher risk. The vaccine is most effective when administered before the first sexual contact, but it can still provide protection even after sexual activity has begun. 3 The HPV vaccine is routinely offered to children aged 12 to 13 Credit: Getty How do you know if you have HPV? HPV doesn't usually cause any symptoms, which means most people who have it don't realise and don't have any problems. But sometimes the virus can cause painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus (known as genital warts). Genital warts appear on their own or in a group (groups of warts can look like a cauliflower. They may feel soft or firm, and be white, red, skin-coloured, or darker than the surrounding skin. Source: NHS Safe sex practices Using condoms consistently and correctly during sexual activity can significantly reduce the risk of HPV transmission, though they don't offer complete protection as HPV can affect areas not covered by the condom. Dental dams can also be used to reduce the risk of transmission during oral sex. And being in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who also has only had sex with you can also reduce the risk. Screening and testing Regular screenings, such as Pap tests and HPV tests, can help detect HPV and abnormal cell changes early, allowing for timely intervention and prevention of cervical cancer. Guidelines recommend starting Pap test screening at age 21 and continuing until age 65 for most women.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
STD suffered by 42million Americans 'actively drives' skin cancer, study suggests
A sexually transmitted disease spread by kissing and oral sex has been linked to skin cancer for the first time. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the US, infecting around 42million Americans at any time and it is already known to cause cancers of the throat, anus and cervix. But now, researchers at the National Institutes of Health say the virus could also cause squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer in the US, with 1.8million cases diagnosed every year. The team made the link after studying a 34-year-old woman who developed skin cancer on her forehead that kept returning despite surgery and immunotherapy. Doctors initially suspected the recurrent cancer was due to a rare condition she had called RIDDLE syndrome, which weakens the immune system and makes the body more sensitive to radiation. But analysis at the NIH revealed HPV had incorporated itself into the genes of her cancer cells, which scientists said had led them to become more aggressive. Further tests showed that her skin cells could still repair sun damage, suggesting ultraviolet (UV) exposure was not the main driver of her skin cancer. Dr Andrea Lisco, a virologist who led the study, said: 'This discovery could completely change how we think about the development, and consequently the treatment, of [skin cancer] in people who have a health condition that compromises immune function. 'It suggests that there may be more people out there with aggressive forms of [skin cancer] who have underlying immune defect and could benefit from treatments targeting the immune system.' The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week, are still preliminary and only suggest a potential link between HPV and skin cancer. More research is needed to confirm the findings, and it is not clear at this time what proportion of skin cancer cases may be caused by the virus. The patient was immunocompromised and unable to produce enough healthy T cells, a key part of the immune system, to fight off the virus. Doctors treated her with a stem cell transplant to restore her immune system. Three years later, her skin cancer has not returned, and other HPV-related complications, such as growths on her tongue and skin, have also disappeared. Researchers said she was infected with beta-HPV, a type of HPV that is present on the skin and can be spread through sexual contact. The variant differs from alpha-HPV, which is linked to cancer in the throat, anus and cervix. Researchers found that the virus had embedded itself in the cancer cells' DNA and was driving them to produce viral proteins, triggering mutations that likely fueled the tumors growth. There are 13million new HPV cases in the US every year, typically attacking the skin and mucous membrane before it is cleared by the immune system. But in persistent HPV infections, studies suggest that mutations occur in cells that lead to the development of cancer. The immune system normally clears the infection by itself, with many patients unaware they ever had HPV. But in some cases the infection can cause symptoms, like warts, with doctors treating these using surgery or prescription creams to destroy the growths. About 13,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in women every year, of which 90 percent are estimated to have been caused by HPV infections. There are also about 7,854 cases of anal cancer every year in the US, with 91 percent of these cases linked to the virus. And about 13,000 cases of laryngeal cancer are diagnosed in the US annually, of which only around two to three percent are estimated to be caused by HPV. The number of people infected with HPV is believed to have fallen in recent years amid rising uptake of the vaccine against the virus. Overall, nearly 60 percent of those aged 13 to 15 years were vaccinated against the disease in 2023, double the around 30 percent a decade earlier. But the disease still remains the most common STD in the US, and infects millions of people every year. Cases of squamous cell carcinoma, however, have spiked in recent years and risen by 200 percent in the last three decades, estimates suggest. This has primarily been linked to more exposure to UV rays from the sun and tanning beds. Warning signs of the cancer include a firm, raised bump or nodule on the skin, or a scaly, red or pink patch or sore that does not heal. Those with long-term sun exposure, fair skin, or who are over 65 years old are most likely to be diagnosed with the disease. Men are also twice as likely to be diagnosed as women. Doctors normally treat the cancer using surgery or chemotherapy, and it has a good survival rate. More than four in five cases are caught in the early stages, where patients have a five-year survival rate of 99 percent. But if the cancer spreads in the body, this drops to 20 percent.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
US scientists discover common virus that can cause skin cancer
Representational image You've probably heard of HPV—the virus most people think of when it comes to things like cervical cancer. But did you know there's a type of HPV that usually just lives on your skin, minding its own business? It's called beta-HPV, and until now, scientists thought it didn't directly cause skin cancer. They believed it only helped skin damage from sun exposure get worse over time. Well, here's the twist: Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found proof that this 'harmless' beta-HPV can actually turn into a full-on cause of skin cancer—but especially in people whose immune systems aren't working right. The story starts with a 34-year-old woman who kept getting a common type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma on her forehead. Despite surgeries and treatments, the cancer kept coming back. Doctors first thought her skin couldn't repair sun damage properly and that her immune system was letting the virus run wild. Turns out, in her case, the beta-HPV virus actually sneaked into the DNA of her skin cells and was actively producing viral proteins basically hijacking her skin cells. This was big news because before, beta-HPV wasn't known to do that. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Spacious 3 & 4 BHK Homes Starting ₹1.65 Cr Near HITEC City Honer Signatis Book Now Undo Her immune system's problem was that certain immune cells, T cells, weren't activating well enough to fight off the virus. Because of this, the virus stuck around and caused the skin cancer to come back again and again. So what did the NIH team do? They created a personalized treatment plan and gave her a stem cell transplant to replace her faulty immune cells with healthy ones. After the transplant, all her HPV-related issues, including the skin cancer, disappeared and haven't come back in over three years. This case shows that in people with weakened immune defenses, beta-HPV can directly cause skin cancer by hijacking skin cells, rather than just helping sun damage do its thing. Scientists say this discovery could change how skin cancer, especially this kind, gets treated, especially for folks with immune system problems. It also highlights how important our immune system is for keeping viruses in check. 'This discovery could completely change how we think about the development, and consequently the treatment, of cSCC in people who have a health condition that compromises immune function,' said Andrea Lisco, M.D. , Ph.D., of NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). 'It suggests that there may be more people out there with aggressive forms of cSCC who have an underlying immune defect and could benefit from treatments targeting the immune system.'
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A type of HPV can cause skin cancer in people with weakened immune systems, report finds
Doctors at the National Institutes of Health have discovered a new cause of skin cancer, according to a case report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The culprit is a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) that's regularly found on the skin. It's long been thought to play a role in the development of skin cancer, but wasn't believed to be a direct cause. Skin cancer is caused by DNA damage in skin cells. The most common source of that damage is ultraviolet radiation from the sun. HPV can help UV-damaged DNA build up in cells and turn cancerous. However, in the new case report, doctors found that the virus itself could cause cancerous lesions to form. The discovery was made in a 34-year-old woman with a weakened immune system; experts said it's highly unlikely that HPV could play the same role in causing skin cancer in a person with a healthy immune system. 'The virus replicated in a somewhat uncontrolled manner and ended up integrating into the skin cells and once they did that, they became cancerous,' said Dr. Andrea Lisco, section chief of the mucosal and cutaneous viral immunopathogenesis unit at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the NIH. Lisco was the woman's doctor and also the senior author of the case report. The woman had 43 spots of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma — the second-most common type of skin cancer, after melanoma — on her face, hands and legs. She had surgery to remove the cancers and immunotherapy, but the cancer returned. When Lisco and his team biopsied several of her new tumors, they found that the woman's skin cancer was being driven by something they hadn't seen before: a group of HPVs called beta HPV. About 90% of people carry a strain of beta HPV. Usually, the virus lives on the skin and doesn't integrate into the DNA of skin cells. 'We shake hands and we pick up those viruses, but if our immune systems are under control, we are fine,' Lisco said. It's a different group of HPV strains — alpha HPVs — that are linked to a range of cancers. Alpha HPVs live on mucus membranes and can integrate into DNA, causing cancers of the cervix, anus, head and neck. The woman in the case report had a genetic condition that weakened her T-cells (a type of immune cell), leaving her immunocompromised. This allowed the beta HPV living on her skin to behave more like alpha HPV, integrating its DNA into her skin cells and replicating undisturbed, turning the cells cancerous. 'You don't know how much you can directly apply the information from one patient to the wide variety of patients,' said Dr. Anthony Oro, professor of dermatology at Stanford Medicine, who wasn't involved in the case. However, 'it suggests that, in the event that the T-cell arm of the immune system is not doing its job, beta-type HPV viruses could contribute to skin cancer, and maybe other kinds of cancers as well,' he said. The patient needed a stem cell transplant, which replaced her defective T-cells with T-cells that could prevent the HPV from replicating. 'We needed to give this patient a whole new immune system,' Lisco said. It worked. Three years post-transplant, the woman's skin cancer has not returned. 'It gives us good information about how the interplay of the HPV and the immune system works,' said Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who also wasn't involved with the woman's case. Doctors have known for a long time that some beta HPVs cause changes on the skin, such as warts on the hands and feet. 'HPV can integrate and cause changes in the cell cycle, especially in people with suppressed immune systems,' Rossi said. 'What was novel about this is that they found out it was a beta HPV that integrated into the DNA.' Other researchers have speculated this was a possibility based on studies in mice, but the new report shows that it can occur in humans. How many people could be at risk is still unknown. 'This is just one patient, and they have this unique situation of an immunological condition that enables the beta HPV to replicate unchecked,' Oro said. Other biopsies of squamous skin cancers have not detected HPV, meaning not all cases are caused by the viruses. Lisco said that the original notion — that HPV passively contributes to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by helping UV radiation damage skin cells, but doesn't actively help cancer grow — is still the likely explanation for many people. For them, 'protection from UV would be the prevention,' Lisco said — wearing sunscreen and covering up your skin from the sun — adding that immunocompromised people should be monitored more closely. People with weakened immune systems are as much as 100 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma. The Gardasil HPV vaccine protects against nine strains of alpha HPV and has been shown to lower rates of cervical and head and neck cancers. It's unclear how much cross-protection, if any, the vaccine provides against other strains of HPV, including beta HPV. 'Even if this strain is not in the vaccine, there is some theory that there is cross-talk between HPV strains,' Rossi said. Most people will get HPV in their lifetimes. Scientists have so far identified about 200 unique strains of the virus. Alpha-HPV, with its well-established links to cancer, has thus far been the primary subject of research. 'This suggests that this other side of the family might also be important in situations where our immune system is not doing its job,' Oro said. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
NBC News
30-07-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Report describes new cause of skin cancer
Doctors at the National Institutes of Health have discovered a new cause of skin cancer, according to a case report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The culprit is a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) that's regularly found on the skin. It's long been thought to play a role in the development of skin cancer, but wasn't believed to be a direct cause. Skin cancer is caused by DNA damage in skin cells. The most common source of that damage is ultraviolet radiation from the sun. HPV can help UV-damaged DNA build up in cells and turn cancerous. However, in the new case report, doctors found that the virus itself could cause cancerous lesions to form. The discovery was made in a 34-year-old woman with a weakened immune system; experts said it's highly unlikely that HPV could play the same role in causing skin cancer in a person with a healthy immune system. 'The virus replicated in a somewhat uncontrolled manner and ended up integrating into the skin cells and once they did that, they became cancerous,' said Dr. Andrea Lisco, section chief of the mucosal and cutaneous viral immunopathogenesis unit at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the NIH. Lisco was the woman's doctor and also the senior author of the case report. The woman had 43 spots of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma — the second-most common type of skin cancer, after melanoma — on her face, hands and legs. She had surgery to remove the cancers and immunotherapy, but the cancer returned. When Lisco and his team biopsied several of her new tumors, they found that the woman's skin cancer was being driven by something they hadn't seen before: a group of HPVs called beta HPV. About 90% of people carry a strain of beta HPV. Usually, the virus lives on the skin and doesn't integrate into the DNA of skin cells. 'We shake hands and we pick up those viruses, but if our immune systems are under control, we are fine,' Lisco said. It's a different group of HPV strains — alpha HPVs — that are linked to a range of cancers. Alpha HPVs live on mucus membranes and can integrate into DNA, causing cancers of the cervix, anus, head and neck. The woman in the case report had a genetic condition that weakened her T-cells (a type of immune cell), leaving her immunocompromised. This allowed the beta HPV living on her skin to behave more like alpha HPV, integrating their DNA into her skin cells and replicating undisturbed, turning the cells cancerous. 'You don't know how much you can directly apply the information from one patient to the wide variety of patients,' said Dr. Anthony Oro, professor of dermatology at Stanford Medicine, who wasn't involved in the case. However, 'it suggests that, in the event that the T-cell arm of the immune system is not doing its job, beta-type HPV viruses could contribute to skin cancer, and maybe other kinds of cancers as well,' he said. The patient needed a stem cell transplant, which replaced her defective T-cells with T-cells that could prevent the HPV from replicating. 'We needed to give this patient a whole new immune system,' Lisco said. It worked. Three years post-transplant, the woman's skin cancer has not returned. 'It gives us good information about how the interplay of the HPV and the immune system works,' said Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who also wasn't involved with the woman's case. Doctors have known for a long time that some beta HPVs cause changes on the skin, such as warts on the hands and feet. 'HPV can integrate and cause changes in the cell cycle, especially in people with suppressed immune systems,' Rossi said. 'What was novel about this is that they found out it was a beta HPV that integrated into the DNA.' Other researchers have speculated this was a possibility based on studies in mice, but the new report shows that it can occur in humans. How many people could be at risk is still unknown. 'This is just one patient, and they have this unique situation of an immunological condition that enables the beta HPV to replicate unchecked,' Oro said. Other biopsies of squamous skin cancers have not detected HPV, meaning not all cases are caused by the viruses. Lisco said that the original notion — that HPV passively contributes to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by helping UV radiation damage skin cells, but doesn't actively help cancer grow — is still the likely explanation for many people. For them, 'protection from UV would be the prevention,' Lisco said — wearing sunscreen and covering up your skin from the sun — adding that immunocompromised people should be monitored more closely. People with weakened immune systems are as much as 100 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma. The Gardasil HPV vaccine protects against nine strains of alpha HPV and has been shown to lower rates of cervical and head and neck cancers. It's unclear how much cross-protection, if any, the vaccine provides against other strains of HPV, including beta HPV. 'Even if this strain is not in the vaccine, there is some theory that there is cross-talk between HPV strains,' Rossi said. Most people will get HPV in their lifetimes. Scientists have so far identified about 200 unique strains of the virus. Alpha-HPV, with its well-established links to cancer, has thus far been the primary subject of research. 'This suggests that this other side of the family might also be important in situations where our immune system is not doing its job,' Oro said.
