Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer and HPV in Persons with Albinism: A Call for Research Investment

Abstract

Persons with albinism (PWA) have excessively high risks of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) if not protected from ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposures, a situation which occurs too often amongst affected persons in sub-Saharan Africa. Certain countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, where levels of UV radiation are high, also have amongst the world's highest national-level prevalence of oculocutaneous albinism. Cutaneous HPV infections, particularly ?-HPVs, may be co-factors with UV in skin carcinogenesis. If this is the case, there may be a pivotal potential for NMSC risk reduction via suitable vaccine development in all at-risk populations, and with the greatest individual-level benefit in PWA. With this background, and amidst climate change-induced increases in UV exposures, the research funding and scientific community are urged to prioritise HPV research on skin carcinogenesis in PWA. In the current perspective, we summarise: (1) the putative co-role of HPV with UV in skin carcinogenesis; (2) the possible implications of a potential HPV role in NMSC carcinogenesis; (3) the risks of skin cancer in PWA in the African setting; and (4) the research needs on HPV and NMSC in PWA, including the sensitivities and ethical responsibilities of undertaking such research amongst the PWA community in the African context.