[Characteristics of recurrence of T1G3 transitional cell carcinoma of bladder]

To investigate the characteristics of recurrence of T1G3 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of bladder.

The clinical data of 72 patients with TCC of bladder of the stage T1, 37 being of the stage T1G3 and 35 being of the stage T1G1-2, who underwent the initial treatment by transurethral resection of bladder tumor plus post-operative bladder infusion were analyzed.

The first, second, third, and fourth year recurrent rates of the T1G3 group were 29.7%, 40.5%, 18.9%, and 10.8% respectively, all significantly higher than those of the T1G2 group (14.3%, 34.3%, 31.4%, and 20.0% respectively, t = 1.994, P = 0.025). The rate of recurrence for only time was 10.8% in the T1G3 group (4/37), significantly lower than that of the T1G1-2 group (17/35, 48.6%, P < 0.01). The rate of recurrence for more than 3 times was 54.0% in the T1G3 group (20/37), significantly higher than that of the T1G1-2 group (6/35, 17.2%, P < 0.01). The rate of recurrent tumor at the pathological stage over T2 was 86.5% (32/37) in the T1G3 group, higher than that of the T1G1-2 group (42.8%, 15/35). The rate of partial or total cystectomy at the last recurrence in the T1G3 group was 94.6% (35/37), significantly higher than that of the T1G1-2 group (57.1%, 20/35, chi(2) = 14.00, P < 0.05).

A kind of dangerous bladder cancer, TCC at the stage T1G3 is apt recur soon after the treatment with a high recurrent frequency. Most recurrent tumors evolve into invasive cancer.