National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Urachal cancer


Other Names:
Urachal carcinoma
Categories:
Urachal cancer is a type of bladder cancer, making up less than 1% of all bladder cancers.[1] The urachus is a structure normally only present during development in the womb that connects the bellybutton and the bladder. This connection normally disappears before birth, but in some people remains.[2][1] Urachal cancers are usually diagnosed in adults in their 50's and 60's and may develop at the dome or anterior wall of the bladder, along the midline of the body (including the belly button), and between the pubis symphasis and the bladder.[3]

Most urachal cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that develop from gland cells). Others may be sarcomas (which develop from connective tissue - such as leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma), small cell carcinomas, transitional cell cancer, and mixed neoplasias. Most individuals with urachal cancer have symptoms of with hematuria (blood in urine). Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, a palpable abdominal mass, mucinuria, and bacteriuria. Treatment usually involved surgery to remove the cancer.[1][3]
Last updated: 4/11/2017
Treatment for urachal cancer usually involves surgery to remove affected areas of the urachus, umbilicus (belly button), surrounding tissue, and all or part of the bladder (cystectomy). The role of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the treatment of urachal cancer is unclear, although some studies show that chemotherapy can be useful in instances where the cancer spreads (metastasis) to other areas of the body and when the cancer returns after treatment (recurrence).[3][4]
Last updated: 4/11/2017
Studies have shown that the TNM staging system is a good predictor of survival for urachal cancer.[1] Individuals who are diagnosed with early disease confined to the urachus, stages I and II, have a good survival when treated with surgery such as partial cystectomy.[1][5][4] However, the prognosis drastically changes for patients that present with advanced stages of this disease.[1][4]
Last updated: 4/11/2017

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Urachal cancer. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Organizations Providing General Support

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Cancer Institute provides the most current information on cancer for patients, health professionals, and the general public.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Urachal cancer. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • What is the youngest age at which a person developed urachal cancer? See answer

  • I have been diagnosed with urachal cancer. Are there any new studies or treatments available for this rare disease? See answer


  1. Molina JR, Quevedo JF, Furth AF, Richardson RL, Zincke H, Burch PA. Predictors of survival from urachal cancer. Cancer. December 1, 2007; 110(11):2434-40. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17932892.
  2. Urachal Abnormalities. Urology Care Foundation. http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=41. Accessed 4/11/2017.
  3. Behrendt MA, van Rhijn BWG. Genetics and biological markers in urachal cancer. Transl Androl Urol. October 2016; 5(5):655-661. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5071183/.
  4. Kim IK, Lee JY, Kwon JK et al. Prognostic Factors for Urachal Cancer: A Bayesian Model-Averaging Approach. Korean J Urol. September 2014; 55(9):574-580. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4165919/.
  5. Abel EJ, Heckman JE, Downs T. Partial Cystectomy. Medscape. October 3. 2016; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/446101.