Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Soft Tissue Sarcomas are an uncommon type of cancer that includes tumors that develop in the tissue surrounding the lungs, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. They're rare, but their numbers are growing rapidly because they're difficult to detect early on.

Almost 20% of patients with soft tissue sarcomas die within five years after diagnosis, compared to just 5% for all other types of malignancies. These cancers are often found only after the disease has already caused severe damage to vital organs or spread beyond their primary site.

The good news is that there are new treatment options in the form of immunotherapy that have shown promise in pre-clinical trials.

Sarcomas are generally divided into three categories based on their characteristics, behavior, and response to treatment. These categories are well-differentiated soft tissue sarcomas (WD), moderately differentiated soft tissue sarcomas (MST), and poorly differentiated soft tissue sarcoma (PDST).

Immunotherapy works by taking advantage of the immune system's ability to recognize tumor cells as foreign bodies and eliminate them. This type of treatment is called active immunotherapy.

Types Of Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Chondrosarcoma is the most common form of soft tissue sarcomas among adults, with about 1,400 new cases reported each year. It typically develops in the deep layer of cartilage surrounding the bones of the legs, arms, pelvis, spine, skull, and face. It's most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 15 and 40 years old.

Chondrosarcomas are classified into two groups - primary or secondary. Primary chondrosarcomas arise in tissues that contain cartilage cells while secondary chondrosarcomas arise in joints or soft tissue near cartilaginous structures.

While primary chondrosarcomas are more common than secondary chondrosarcomas, they're also more aggressive and carry a poorer prognosis.

Osteosarcoma is the second most common type of soft tissue sarcomas in adults. It typically develops in bone marrow, where new bone cells are made, but it can also arise in the cartilage surrounding bones.

Risk factors for osteosarcoma include previous radiation therapy or chemotherapy for other cancers, previous trauma to the affected area (such as a sports-related injury), and long-term use of certain medications (such as steroids).

Patients with multiple myeloma also have an increased risk of developing osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is more common among men than women. It mostly affects people between the ages of 15 and 25 years old but can occur at any age.

Osteosarcomas are classified based on their location in the body. Primary tumors typically occur in the upper leg, arm, or thigh. Secondary tumors usually develop in sites near primary osteosarcomas, including the upper femur (thigh bone), upper tibia (shin bone), upper humerus (upper arm bone), pelvis, skull, spine, ribs, and shoulder blades.

Ewing's sarcoma is most commonly found in children and teenagers between 15 and 20 years old. It's the most common type of sarcoma in children and it tends to be more common among males than females.

Ewing's sarcomas typically develop in bone and muscle tissue and only rarely develop in soft tissue. It is most commonly diagnosed in the pelvis, femur, or tibia of the legs, but can also occur near the spine or hip.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) tumors grow from cells that wrap around nerves in soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and blood vessels. A PNST usually affects a nerve at its point of entry into a muscle or another structure of the body.

Frequently Asked Questions On Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Here are some common questions regarding Soft Tissue Sarcoma:

What Is Cancer And How Is It Diagnosed?

Cancer is a disease in which cells grow in and out of control and interfere with the normal functioning of the body. A tumor is any mass of tissue in the body, but when they develop in or around tissues and organs they can interfere with the function of that organ.

Different organs in the body can be affected by tumors, such as breast (breast cancer), lung (lung cancer), colon (colon cancer), blood (leukemia), etc. There are many different forms of tumors; for example, brain tumors; breast tumors; leukemia, etc.

Cancer is diagnosed after a period of symptoms; we usually detect cancers when we notice that something is wrong. Symptoms can be a pain (ache), lumps, and other symptoms such as fatigue (tiredness).

Getting screened for cancer is an important part of cancer prevention. Each year in the US, more than 1,000,000 people are diagnosed with cancer; about half of them die from cancer each year.

How Do I Know What Type Of Sarcoma I Have?

If your doctor recommends further testing to determine the specific type of Sarcoma you have, they will likely order a biopsy. Once the tissue is removed and analyzed, you will be diagnosed with that specific type of Sarcoma.

What Types Of Cancers Start In Soft Tissue?

Many types of cancer start in soft tissue, but the two most common are sarcomas and lymphoma. Soft Tissue Sarcoma affects only about 5% of all cancer patients while Lymphoma is more common than any other cancer that starts in soft tissue. Unlike other cancers, which are targeted by treatments based on their appearance, sarcomas do not have a recognizable appearance on x-rays unless they have spread to the bone or deep tissues.

What Type Of Cancer Do Sarcomas Develop From?

Sarcomas develop in mesenchymal tissues. Mesenchymal tissues are non-epithelial tissues that support or connect other cells or form certain glands or tissues, including bone, fat, blood vessels, and muscle. Other sarcoma types are derived from muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, cartilage, blood vessels, bone marrow, and lymphatic cells.

What Causes Sarcomas?

To have cancer means that an abnormal cell starts to grow out of control inside the body. Often the cell will find its way into your bloodstream or lymph nodes, where it can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body like lungs or bones.

This is why there is no one specific cause for Sarcoma; however, research shows that some people are at higher risk for developing Sarcoma due to their genetics and inherited conditions.