Malignant transformation of canine oral papillomavirus (CPV1)-associated papillomas in dogs: An emerging concern?

Canine oral papillomavirus (CPV1, also known as COPV), the most common cause of non-neoplastic papillomas, has not been shown to cause squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Furthermore, malignant transformation of benign papillomas to SCC has only been reported in a single group of dogs with severe combined immunodeficiency infected with CPV2. Here, we report a series of 7 dogs with benign CPV1-associated papillomas with histologic evidence of CPV1 causing malignant transformation to carcinoma in situ and ultimately SCC. Expression of p53 and p16 proteins in CPV1-infected cells within the benign papillomas and lesions that progressed into SCC also supported an association between papillomavirus and malignant transformation. Moreover, our retrospective analysis indicated that while there have been increased numbers of viral papillomas with malignant transformation, the number of annually diagnosed canine viral papillomas has remained constant over the past decade in our laboratory. We speculate that either an altered host immunity from increased usage of immunosuppressive drugs or changing environmental factors, e.g. increase exposure to UV radiation, may cause an increased oncogenic potential of this “low-risk” virus. This study aims to raise awareness of the malignant potential of CPV1 and to encourage further investigations into the cause of this suspected change in its oncogenic potential.