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Genetics Library / Conditions / Bladder cancer

CONDITION REFERENCE

Bladder cancer

Information from MedlinePlus Genetics about this condition and how it can be inherited.

About this condition

Bladder cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the bladder become abnormal and multiply uncontrollably to form a tumor. The bladder is a muscular organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine until it can be removed (excreted) from the body.

Bladder cancer may cause blood in the urine, pain during urination, frequent urination, the feeling of needing to urinate without being able to, or lower back pain. Many of these signs and symptoms are nonspecific, which means they may occur in multiple disorders. People who have one or more of these nonspecific health problems often do not have bladder cancer, but have another condition such as an infection.

Bladder cancer develops when tumors form in the tissue that lines the bladder. There are several types of bladder cancer, categorized by the type of cell in the tissue that becomes cancerous. The most common type is transitional cell carcinoma (also known as urothelial carcinoma); others include squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. If the tumor spreads  (metastasizes) beyond the lining of the bladder into nearby tissues or organs, it is known as invasive bladder cancer. 

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Source publication: 2024-09-17. Source review: 2020-02.

Inheritance

  • Not inherited
  • Autosomal dominant

A condition can have several forms with different inheritance patterns. Each pattern may apply to a different gene or form of the condition.

Related genes

MedlinePlus lists these genes for this condition. Open a gene page to read any available ClinGen reviews and ClinVar records.

YOUR DNA FILE

What can your DNA file tell you?

Your DNA file only includes the positions your test checked and reported. Consumer DNA kits usually test selected positions. Sequencing files can also leave out positions that were not reported or where the test could not give a result.

A variant missing from your file does not mean you tested negative for it. A ClinVar classification applies to a particular variant and the condition or finding it was reported for. It does not apply to everyone with that gene. An uncertain finding cannot establish a diagnosis.

BioDecode reads supported DNA files on your computer. It cannot fill gaps in your test, diagnose a condition or replace clinical testing.

Sources and dates

The source information on this page last changed on 2026-09-18.

MedlinePlus Source details

Open source record ↗

Source release: Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:17:13 GMT
Source publication: 2024-09-17
Source review: 2020-02

SHA-256: fdc8bd614310c12718379cef6569962e5d0e791cecabcc355b53a72816ac263a

About the library sources · Latest validated release · Record a579be306a74