Dartmouth Medical School researchers have discovered that the same human papillomavirus, HPV, which has been linked to cervical cancer, is also linked to skin cancer. "Although sun exposure and sun sensitivity are the major risk factors for skin cancers, our data support a role of HPV, particularly beta HPV, in the development of squamous cell carcinoma," states Dr. Margaret Karagas, of Dartmouth Medical School’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

New technology based on fluorescent bead technology that can detect viral antibodies allowed researchers to identify the virus in skin cancer samples. To investigate all the possibilities contributing to the development of skin cancer, researchers conducted one-on-one interviews with the study participants about lifestyle habits, such as drinking and smoking, medical and family history, their usual level of sun exposure and their skin’s sensitivity to sun. When this information was compiled and analyzed, the researchers still found an association between HPV and squamous skin cancer.