“…On the other hand, the random selection of sizeable populations, which are matched by the recruitment period, age and ethnicity, allows a higher frequency of smokers among BC patients to be considered as a disease-specific feature in support of findings that bladder cancer is an age-, gender-, and smoking-related disease [ 33 , 34 ]. It should also be mentioned that the percentage of smokers in the control population reflects the situation with tobacco consumption in Belarus, and the gene-smoking relationship in bladder cancer has been previously characterized [ 21 , 35 ]. A close association of bladder cancer with age and a tobacco smoking habit suggests that oxidative stress contributes to its development.…”