Furthermore, our results did not directly indicate that either the FGFR4 genotype or TP53 mutation status was an independent predictor of prognosis for bladder cancer but that they might act jointly on the disease-specific survival of patients, which supports the hypothesis that the FGFR3 and TP53 gene mutations may represent two alternative genetic pathways in the progression of bladder cancer (van Rhijn et al, 2004). The gene discussed is FGFR4; the disease is urinary bladder carcinoma.