Human papillomavirus (HPV) may cause bladder cancer.

Examination of tissue samples from 117 cases of bladder cancer identified DNA from the human papillomavirus (HPV) was in 15% of the samples.  The cases associated with HPV tended to be at earlier stages and were found in patients diagnosed with cancer at a younger age.  The results strongly suggest that HPV, already a known cause of cervical, and head/neck cancer is the cause of some cases of bladder cancer.