Overview

Information about the prevention of cancer and the science of screening appropriate individuals at high risk of developing cancer is gaining interest. Physicians and individuals alike recognize that the best “treatment” of cancer is preventing its occurrence in the first place or detecting it early when it may be most treatable.

The chance of an individual developing cancer depends on both genetic and non-genetic factors. A genetic factor is an inherited, unchangeable trait, while a non-genetic factor is a variable in a person’s environment, which can often be changed. Non-genetic factors may include diet, exercise, or exposure to other substances present in our surroundings. These non-genetic factors are often referred to as environmental factors.

Heredity or Genetic Factors in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Most soft tissue sarcomas are sporadic (not hereditary). However, soft tissue sarcomas occur with greater frequency in patients with von Recklinghausen’s disease (neurofibromatosis), Gardner’s syndrome, Werner’s syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, basal cell nevus syndrome and Li-Fraumeni syndrome (p53 mutations).1 For more information on these specific genetic disorders, there are specific web sites devoted to each disease which include information on the risk of developing a soft tissue sarcoma.

Environmental or Non-Genetic Factors

Radiation therapy for other cancers is associated with an increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas. Some soft tissue sarcomas (for example, leiomyosarcoma) have been linked to Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Other environmental factors may influence soft tissue sarcomas as well, but given the wide variety of histological types of soft tissue sarcoma and the relative rarity of each type, many risk factors may go unrecognized.

Prevention of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Risk factors for soft tissue sarcoma are still poorly understood, and there are no known preventive strategies.

Screening and Early Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

For many types of cancer, progress in the areas of cancer screening and treatment has offered promise for earlier detection and higher cure rates. The term screening refers to the regular use of certain examinations or tests in individuals who do not have any symptoms of a cancer but are at high risk for that cancer. When individuals are at high risk for a type of cancer, this means that they have certain characteristics or exposures, called risk factors that make them more likely to develop that type of cancer than those who do not have these risk factors. The risk factors are different for different types of cancer. An awareness of these risk factors is important because 1) some risk factors can be changed (such as smoking or dietary intake), thus decreasing the risk for developing the associated cancer; and 2) persons who are at high risk for developing a cancer can often undergo regular screening measures that are recommended for that cancer type. Researchers continue to study which characteristics or exposures are associated with an increased risk for various cancers, allowing for the use of more effective prevention, early detection and treatment strategies.

There are no current screening techniques or effective preventative measures for soft tissue sarcoma. However, more than 70 percent of soft tissue sarcomas occur in areas of the extremities, trunk, and head and neck that are palpable (can be felt with the hands). Patients and parents should be aware of such painless “growths” and discuss them with their physician as soon as they are noticed. Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas (soft tissue sarcomas that develop in the space behind the abdominal lining) often present with numbness due to nerve compression, swelling of an extremity, or bladder symptoms. Such symptoms should alert parents to seek medical attention at the earliest sign.

Reference

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