BACKGROUNDA Phase II trial comprising patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (Stage IVB) was undertaken to determine the activity of bleomycin, vincristine, lomustine, and dacarbazine (BOLD) chemotherapy with human leukocyte interferon, as well as the progression‐free and overall survival of the patients according to the substage before treatment.METHODSTwenty‐two patients with histologically proven metastatic uveal melanoma received 15 mg of bleomycin (Days 2 and 5), 1 mg/m2 vincristine (Days 1 and 4), 200 mg/m2 dacarbazine (Days 1 to 5), and 80 mg lomustine (Day 1) every 4 weeks together with a leukocyte interferon preparation (3 × 106 IU daily for 6 weeks followed by 6 × 106 IU three times per week).RESULTSOf 20 evaluable patients, 3 (15%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0–38) obtained a partial objective response in hepatic and extrahepatic sites and 11 (55%; 95% CI 32–77) showed stable disease after receiving more than two cycles. The median progression‐free survival was 4 months (95% CI 2–10) and the median overall survival was 12 months (95% CI 8–22). Eleven patients who had favorable pretreatment characteristics (Stage IVBa) survived a median of 17 months (95% CI 4–37) whereas 10 patients with less favorable characteristics (Stage IVBb) survived a median of 11 months (95% CI 1–23). Moderate toxicity occurred with this outpatient regimen.CONCLUSIONSThe BOLD/human leukocyte interferon regimen had modest activity against metastatic uveal melanoma in hepatic and extrahepatic sites. The median overall survival approached that reported for more aggressive intrahepatic therapy regimens. Substage differences can significantly impact study outcomes. Therefore, substage information should be reported to facilitate comparisons between studies. Cancer 2002;95:2366–72. © 2002 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.10996

The role of the male reproductive tract as a reservoir for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is poorly understood. To analyze the presence of HPV DNA, 27 samples, comprising postvasectomy semen samples and pre- and postejaculation urine samples, were obtained from 18 men recalled for follow-up. HPV DNA was analyzed by nested polymerase chain reaction, confirmed with Southern blot hybridization, cloned, and sequenced. Multiple HPV types were found in different DNA samples of the same men. Five (18.5%) of 27 vas deferens samples contained HPV type 6, 11, or 16. Five (27.8%) of 18 seminal plasma samples (secretions without semen cells) were HPV DNA positive. None of the men had both vas deferens and semen plasma samples HPV positive. Several HPV types can be detected in the male reproductive tract at the same time. This is the first report to show HPV DNA in the vas deferens.

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