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

Vulvar cancer


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Vulvar cancer is the abnormal growth of cells of the vulva, which is part of the female reproductive system and includes the vaginal lips, clitoris, and part of the vagina.  Symptoms of vulvar cancer may consist of a lump (mass), itching, or unusual bleeding.  Though the exact cause of this cancer is unknown, older women and those who have human papillomavirus have a higher chance of developing vulvar cancer.  Treatment may include laser therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.[1]
Last updated: 7/27/2012
Most vulvar cancers occur by chance due to older age or human papillomavirus infection.  However, an inherited condition called Fanconi anemia is associated with a significantly increased risk for vulvar cancer.[2]  This condition is very rare and may cause only a small proportion of all vulvar cancers.  There is also some evidence that a small number of vulvar cancers may be related to a genetic predisposition: one research study found that relatives of individuals with vulvar cancer have a slightly increased risk to develop vulvar cancer, which suggests there may be a genetic component to this disease that could be shared by family members, but the specific gene is not yet known.[3]
Last updated: 7/27/2012

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 Vulvar 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.

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.

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.

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

  • Have there been any specific genetic findings concerning vulvar cancer?  In my family, three female relatives had vulvar cancer, squamous cell carcinoma type.  I am concerned for all the females in my extended family and would be interested in any information you could offer. See answer


  1. National Cancer Institute. General Information about Vulvar Cancer. Vulvar Cancer Treatment (PDQ). 2012; http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/vulvar/Patient. Accessed 7/20/2012.
  2. Rosenberg PS, Alter BP, Ebell W. Cancer risks in Fanconi anemia: findings from the German Fanconi Anemia Registry. Haematologica. 2008; 93:511-517. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18322251. Accessed 7/20/2012.
  3. Hussain SK, Sundquist J, Hemminki K. Familial clustering of cancer at human papillomavirus-associated sites according to the Swedish Family-Cancer Database. International Journal of Cancer. 2008; 122:1873-1878. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18074353. Accessed 7/20/2012.