Bladder cancer is a common malignancy and accounts for 8,000 new cases
and 4,000 deaths each year in France. Numerous factors may be respons
ible for the development of this disease,first of which are smoking an
d occupational exposure to chemicals. Main data regarding etiology, ep
idemiology and biology of bladder cancer are detailed. Diagnostic and
therapeutic advances as well as actual research directions are present
ed.