Overview
Small cell carcinoma of the bladder is a very rare and aggressive type of bladder cancer. Unlike the more common form of bladder cancer (called urothelial or transitional cell carcinoma), small cell carcinoma is made up of small, round cancer cells that grow and spread quickly. This cancer type is similar to small cell lung cancer in how it looks under a microscope and how it behaves, but it starts in the bladder instead of the lungs. Symptoms often include blood in the urine (which may be visible or only found on a urine test), frequent or painful urination, pelvic pain, and sometimes difficulty urinating. Because this cancer tends to grow fast, it may already have spread to other parts of the body by the time it is found. Patients may also experience weight loss, fatigue, and bone pain if the cancer has spread. Treatment usually involves a combination of chemotherapy and surgery or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy regimens similar to those used for small cell lung cancer — typically cisplatin and etoposide — are commonly used. Surgery to remove the bladder (radical cystectomy) may also be recommended. Because this cancer is so rare, treatment plans are often based on experience with small cell lung cancer and on case reports rather than large clinical trials. Early and aggressive treatment gives the best chance of controlling the disease.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Blood in the urine (hematuria)Frequent urinationPainful urinationDifficulty urinatingPelvic or lower abdominal painUnexplained weight lossFatigue and weaknessBone pain if cancer has spreadLoss of appetiteFeeling of incomplete bladder emptyingBack pain or flank painSwelling in the legs if lymph nodes are involved
Clinical phenotype terms (6)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Late onset
Begins later in life, typically after age 50
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsRondo Therapeutics — PHASE1
National Cancer Institute (NCI) — PHASE2
National Cancer Institute (NCI) — PHASE2
BeiGene — PHASE1
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins — PHASE2
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano
Invitae Corporation
IDEAYA Biosciences — PHASE1
AstraZeneca — PHASE1, PHASE2
BicycleTx Limited — PHASE1, PHASE2
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
3 availableIMFINZI
in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by single agent IMFINZI as adjuvant treatment following radical cystectomy, for the treatment of adult patients with mu…
in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by single agent IMFINZI as adjuvant treatment following radical cystectomy, for the treatment of adult patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)
TEPADINA
For treatment of superficial papillary carcinoma of the urinary bladder
Valstar
For intravesical therapy of BCG-refractory carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder in patients for whom immediate cystectomy would be associated with unacceptable morbidity or mortality.
Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Financial Resources
1 resourcesTravel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Small cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Small cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Small cell carcinoma of the bladder
2 articlesCaregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What stage is my cancer, and has it spread beyond the bladder?,What treatment plan do you recommend, and why?,Am I a candidate for surgery, and what would life be like after bladder removal?,Are there any clinical trials available for small cell carcinoma of the bladder?,What side effects should I expect from chemotherapy, and how can they be managed?,Should my tumor be tested for specific mutations that might guide treatment?,What support services are available to help me and my family cope with this diagnosis?
Common questions about Small cell carcinoma of the bladder
What is Small cell carcinoma of the bladder?
Small cell carcinoma of the bladder is a very rare and aggressive type of bladder cancer. Unlike the more common form of bladder cancer (called urothelial or transitional cell carcinoma), small cell carcinoma is made up of small, round cancer cells that grow and spread quickly. This cancer type is similar to small cell lung cancer in how it looks under a microscope and how it behaves, but it starts in the bladder instead of the lungs. Symptoms often include blood in the urine (which may be visible or only found on a urine test), frequent or painful urination, pelvic pain, and sometimes diffic
How is Small cell carcinoma of the bladder inherited?
Small cell carcinoma of the bladder follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Small cell carcinoma of the bladder typically begin?
Typical onset of Small cell carcinoma of the bladder is late onset. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Small cell carcinoma of the bladder?
Yes — 9 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Small cell carcinoma of the bladder on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Small cell carcinoma of the bladder?
25 specialists and care centers treating Small cell carcinoma of the bladder are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
What treatment and support options exist for Small cell carcinoma of the bladder?
1 patient support program are currently tracked on UniteRare for Small cell carcinoma of the bladder. See the treatments and support programs sections for copay assistance, eligibility, and contact details.