Scientists have discovered in a new study that beta-human papillomavirus (beta-HPV), previously considered harmless, can alone cause squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (CSCC), one of the most common types of skin cancer.
According to New Atlas, research by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that this virus plays a key role in the development of this disease in people with weak immune systems.
Until now, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun was known to be the main cause of CSCC, and beta-HPV was only considered an exacerbator of UV damage.
This new discovery challenges previous views and could pave the way for new methods of preventing and treating skin cancer.
