Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have established that beta-human papillomavirus (beta-HPV) can directly lead to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients with compromised immune systems. A notable case involving a 34-year-old woman with ZAP70 mutations demonstrated complete remission of SCC and HPV lesions after immune restoration via hematopoietic cell transplantation. This finding indicates a direct oncogenic role of beta-HPV, suggesting a need for reevaluating SCC treatment protocols, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Sources: The New England Journal of Medicine, National Institutes of Health