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Bladder cancer

Reviewed January 2007

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the bladder become abnormal and multiply without control or order. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine until it is ready to be excreted from the body. The most common type of bladder cancer begins in cells lining the inside of the bladder and is called transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

Bladder cancer may cause blood in the urine, pain during urination, frequent urination, or the feeling that one needs to urinate without results. These signs and symptoms are not specific to bladder cancer, however. They also can be caused by noncancerous conditions such as infections.

How common is bladder cancer?

In the United States, bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the ninth most common cancer in women. About 45,000 men and 17,000 women are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year.

What are the genetic changes related to bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is related to chromosome 9.

The FGFR3, HRAS, RB1, TP53, and TSC1 genes are associated with bladder cancer.

As with most cancers, the exact causes of bladder cancer are not known; however, many risk factors are associated with this disease. Many of the major risk factors are environmental, such as smoking and exposure to certain industrial chemicals. Studies suggest that chronic bladder inflammation, a parasitic infection called schistosomiasis, and some medications used to treat cancer are other environmental risk factors associated with bladder cancer.

Genetic factors are also likely to play an important role in determining bladder cancer risk. Researchers have studied the effects of mutations in several genes, including FGFR3, RB1, HRAS, TP53, and TSC1, on the formation and growth of bladder tumors. Each of these genes plays a critical role in regulating cell division by preventing cells from dividing too rapidly or in an uncontrolled way. Alterations in these genes may help explain why some bladder cancers grow and spread more rapidly than others.

Deletions of part or all of chromosome 9 are common events in bladder tumors. Researchers believe that several genes that control cell growth and division are probably located on chromosome 9. They are working to determine whether a loss of these genes plays a role in the development and progression of bladder cancer.

Most of the genetic changes associated with bladder cancer develop in bladder tissue during a person's lifetime, rather than being inherited from a parent. Some people, however, appear to inherit a reduced ability to break down certain chemicals, which makes them more sensitive to the cancer-causing effects of tobacco smoke and industrial chemicals.

Can bladder cancer be inherited?

Bladder cancer is typically not inherited. Most often, tumors result from genetic mutations that occur in bladder cells during a person's lifetime. These noninherited genetic changes are called somatic mutations.

Where can I find information about treatment for bladder cancer?

You may find information on treatment or management of bladder cancer or some of its symptoms in the links below, particularly the links for MedlinePlus Encyclopedia, Educational resources, and Patient support.

Where can I find additional information about bladder cancer?

You may find the following resources about bladder cancer helpful. These materials are written for the general public.

  • MedlinePlus - Health information
    • Encyclopedia: Bladder Cancer (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000486.htm)
    • Health Topic: Bladder Cancer (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladdercancer.html)
  • Additional NIH Resources - National Institutes of Health
    • National Cancer Institute: Bladder Cancer Home Page (http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/types/bladder/)
    • National Cancer Institute: What You Need To Know About Bladder Cancer (http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/bladder)
  • Educational resources - Information pages
    • American Urological Association (http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=03&topic=37)
    • M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (http://www.mdanderson.org/diseases/bladder/)
    • Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/bladder-cancer/)
    • Merck Manual of Medical Information, Second Home Edition (http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec11/ch151/ch151d.html)
    • NetWellness (http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/urinarycancer/)
    • New York Online Access to Health (NOAH) (http://www.noah-health.org/en/cancer/types/bladder/)
    • Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins (http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org/cancertypes/bladder-cancer.cfm?cancerid=20)
    • Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center (http://cancer.stanford.edu/urologic/bladder/)
  • Patient support - For patients and families
    • American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/cri_2_3x.asp?dt=44)
    • American Foundation for Urologic Disease (http://www.auafoundation.org/)
    • National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (http://www.canceradvocacy.org)
    • Resource list from the University of Kansas Medical Center (http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/cancer.html)

You may also be interested in these resources, which are designed for healthcare professionals and researchers.

  • ClinicalTrials.gov - Linking patients to medical research (http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/condition=%22bladder+cancer%22)
  • PubMed - Recent literature (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=PubMed&term=(Bladder+Neoplasms[MAJR])+AND+(bladder+cancer[TI])+AND+review[pt]+AND+english[la]+AND+human[mh]&orig_db=PubMed&filters=ON&pmfilter_EDatLimit=360+Days)
  • Online Books - Medical and science texts
    Scriver's Online Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease (OMMBID): Bladder Cancer (http://books.mcgraw-hill.com/getommbid.php?isbn=0071459960&template=ommbid&c=54)
  • OMIM - Genetic disorder catalog (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=109800)

What other names do people use for bladder cancer?

  • Cancer of the bladder
  • Malignant tumor of urinary bladder
  • Urinary bladder cancer

See How are genetic conditions and genes named? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/naming) in the Handbook.

What if I still have specific questions about bladder cancer?

  • See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.
  • Ask the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/).
  • Submit your question to Ask the Geneticist (http://www.askthegen.org/).

What glossary definitions help with understanding bladder cancer?

cancer ; carcinoma ; cell ; cell division ; chromosome ; chronic ; deletion ; gene ; infection ; inflammation ; mutation ; neoplasms ; progression ; risk factors ; sign ; somatic mutation ; symptom ; tissue ; transitional cell carcinoma ; tumor

You may find definitions for these and many other terms in the Genetics Home Reference Glossary (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/glossary).

References
  • American Cancer Society: What Are the Key Statistics for Bladder Cancer? (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_bladder_cancer_44.asp?sitearea=cri)
  • Bryan RT, Hussain SA, James ND, Jankowski JA, Wallace DM. Molecular pathways in bladder cancer: part 1. BJU Int. 2005 Mar;95(4):485-90. Review. No abstract available. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15705065)
  • Bryan RT, Hussain SA, James ND, Jankowski JA, Wallace DM. Molecular pathways in bladder cancer: part 2. BJU Int. 2005 Mar;95(4):491-6. Review. No abstract available. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15705066)
  • Buscarini M, Quek ML, Gill P, Xia G, Quinn DI, Stein JP. Molecular prognostic factors in bladder cancer. BJU Int. 2005 Apr;95(6):739-42. Review. No abstract available. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15794774)
  • Dinney CP, McConkey DJ, Millikan RE, Wu X, Bar-Eli M, Adam L, Kamat AM, Siefker-Radtke AO, Tuziak T, Sabichi AL, Grossman HB, Benedict WF, Czerniak B. Focus on bladder cancer. Cancer Cell. 2004 Aug;6(2):111-6. Review. No abstract available. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15324694)
  • Lindgren D, Liedberg F, Andersson A, Chebil G, Gudjonsson S, Borg A, Mansson W, Fioretos T, Hoglund M. Molecular characterization of early-stage bladder carcinomas by expression profiles, FGFR3 mutation status, and loss of 9q. Oncogene. 2006 Apr 27;25(18):2685-96. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16532037)
  • Mhawech-Fauceglia P, Cheney RT, Schwaller J. Genetic alterations in urothelial bladder carcinoma: an updated review. Cancer. 2006 Mar 15;106(6):1205-16. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16470587)
  • Oxford G, Theodorescu D. The role of Ras superfamily proteins in bladder cancer progression. J Urol. 2003 Nov;170(5):1987-93. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14532839)
  • Smith ND, Rubenstein JN, Eggener SE, Kozlowski JM. The p53 tumor suppressor gene and nuclear protein: basic science review and relevance in the management of bladder cancer. J Urol. 2003 Apr;169(4):1219-28. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12629332)
  • Syrigos KN, Karapanagiotou E, Harrington KJ. The clinical significance of molecular markers to bladder cancer. Hybrid Hybridomics. 2004 Dec;23(6):335-42. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15684659)
  • van Rhijn BW, van Tilborg AA, Lurkin I, Bonaventure J, de Vries A, Thiery JP, van der Kwast TH, Zwarthoff EC, Radvanyi F. Novel fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutations in bladder cancer previously identified in non-lethal skeletal disorders. Eur J Hum Genet. 2002 Dec;10(12):819-24. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12461689)
  • Wolff EM, Liang G, Jones PA. Mechanisms of Disease: genetic and epigenetic alterations that drive bladder cancer. Nat Clin Pract Urol. 2005 Oct;2(10):502-10. Review. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16474624)

 

The resources on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Users seeking information about a personal genetic disease, syndrome, or condition should consult with a qualified healthcare professional. See How can I find a genetics professional in my area? (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/consult/findingprofessional) in the Handbook.

 
Reviewed: January 2007
Published: January 23, 2009