deCODE Cancer

deCODE Bladder Cancer test

Includes nine markers that together define the 23% of the population that has between 1.2 to 3.4 fold the general population risk (20 – 240% increase) of getting bladder cancer.

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The deCODE Cancer Scan detects the same risk factors and markers included in our individual tests for:

Breast Cancer (deCODE BreastCancer™) and
Prostate Cancer (deCODE ProstateCancer™)

together with:

Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bladder Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Testicular Cancer and Thyroid Cancer.

Bladder Cancer

Screening and prevention

How the deCODE Bladder Cancer test can help

Screening the general public for bladder cancer is not recommended by any professional organization.

Bladder cancer screening for people at very high risk is recommended by some. Risk factors that would justify screening include a previous diagnosis of bladder cancer or certain birth defects of the bladder. People with a lot of work-related exposure to certain chemicals might also be screened.

The risk identified by the deCODE Bladder Cancer test is independent of and in addition to what ever other risk factors may be identified.

Having as a complete picture of the patient’s risk as possible, including genetic risk, is always important when giving advice or making decisions about screening and intervention.

With smoking being the most significant risk factor for bladder cancer, information on an additional increased genetic risk may help motivate people to quit smoking.

The deCODE bladder cancer markers are located in or near 9 genes that have been associated with malignant growth, cell proliferation, telomere length and tumor suppression.

The deCODE bladder cancer test helps identify 23% of people of European ancestry who have up-to 240% increased risk of developing bladder cancer.

At present, the necessary scientific information to interpret the genetic risk for individuals of other ethnicities than of European descent is not available.

The associated risk for bladder cancer has been verified in multiple cohorts, comprising the total of about 5.000 patients and 40.000 controls.

It is estimated that nearly 70,000 individuals are diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States every year and that approximately 20% of them will die of the disease.

This content was last reviewed on May 10, 2011.