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

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

Methods: 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.

Results: 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).

Conclusion: 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.