Genetic Testing for Bladder Cancer

What is genetic testing?  

Our genes are passed to us from our parents and grandparents, etc. They define how we look and how our bodies respond to health conditions. Our genes, which sit in the DNA of our cells and are packed with information, offer clues about cancer. In the cancer world, genetic and molecular tests look for many things. They can find biomarkers, which are genetic or molecular clues. Certain biomarkers are known to suggest increased cancer risks, point to an aggressive cancer or show doctors if one treatment could work better than another.

Why is genetic testing of great value?

Genetic/molecular testing may help a doctor know if risks for bladder cancer can be found before it starts or gets bad. Genetic testing may also help find treatments that could stop or kill your specific cancer cells. This means testing helps avoid a “one-size-fits-all” approach. It leads to precision or tailored therapy.

How can genetic testing help with treatment choices?

Certain bladder cancer biomarkers can tell a urologist what treatment may help the most based on a patient’s health status and type of cancer. For example, some patients may do well in clinical trials and other patients may do well with FDA-approved drugs.