Researchers detect genetic pathways involved in bladder cancer causation

PLoS ONE has published a study detailing the population's susceptibility to certain environmental exposures that contribute or influence in bladder cancer according to whether or not detecting changes in certain genes. Some environmental exposures studied are the Aromatic Amines (AA) found in tobacco as well as in some occupations as in the chemical industry or aluminum. The novelty of this study is to evaluate groups of genes or pathways which operate in the same direction.

In total they have analyzed data from 3,532 cases and 5,120 controls conducted in Europe coming from 5 different studies. In the Spanish case there are cases from Epicuro project.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Spanish men. Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to AA coming from the tobacco is closely related to risk of bladder cancer.