Sarcoma

Sarcoma
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) image of a sarcoma
Classification and external resources
Specialty Oncology
ICD-O M8800/3
MeSH D012509

A sarcoma (from the Greek σάρξ sarx meaning "flesh") is a cancer that arises from transformed cells of mesenchymal origin. Thus, malignant tumors made of cancellous bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, or hematopoietic tissues are, by definition, considered sarcomas. This is in contrast to a malignant tumor originating from epithelial cells, which are termed carcinoma. Human sarcomas are quite rare. Common malignancies, such as breast, colon, and lung cancer, are almost always carcinoma.[1]

Classification

Tissue

Sarcomas are given a number of different names based on the type of tissue that they most closely resemble. For example, osteosarcoma resembles bone, chondrosarcoma resembles cartilage, liposarcoma resembles fat, and leiomyosarcoma resembles smooth muscle.

Grade

In addition to being named based on the tissue of origin, sarcomas are also assigned a grade (low, intermediate, or high) based on the presence and frequency of certain cellular and subcellular characteristics associated with malignant biological behavior. Low grade sarcomas are usually treated surgically, although sometimes radiation therapy or chemotherapy are used. Intermediate and high grade sarcomas are more frequently treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.[2] Since higher grade tumors are more likely to undergo metastasis (invasion and spread to locoregional and distant sites), they are treated more aggressively. The recognition that many sarcomas are sensitive to chemotherapy has dramatically improved the survival of patients. For example, in the era before chemotherapy, long-term survival for patients with localized osteosarcoma was only approximately 20%, but now has risen to 60–70%.[3]

Types

(ICD-O codes are provided, where available, along with the relevant edition.)

Surgery is important in the treatment of most sarcomas.[4] Limb sparing surgery, as opposed to amputation, can now be used to save the limbs of patients in at least 90% of extremity tumor cases.[4] Additional treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may be administered before and/or after surgery.[2] Chemotherapy significantly improves the prognosis for many sarcoma patients, especially those with bone sarcomas.[5] Treatment can be a long and arduous process, lasting about a year for many patients.[2]

Epidemiology

Sarcomas are quite rare with only 15,000 new cases per year in the United States.[10] Sarcomas therefore represent about one percent of the 1.5 million new cancer diagnoses in that country each year.[11]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common form of sarcoma, with approximately 3,000–3,500 cases per year in the United States.[12]

Sarcomas affect people of all ages. Approximately 50% of bone sarcomas and 20% of soft tissue sarcomas are diagnosed in people under the age of 35.[13] Some sarcomas, such as leiomyosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), are more common in adults than in children. Most high-grade bone sarcomas, including Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma, are much more common in children and young adults.

Awareness

In the U.S., July is widely recognized as Sarcoma Awareness Month.[14] The U.K. has a Sarcoma Awareness Week July 4-10.[15]

References

  1. ↑ International Agency for Research on Cancer (2002). Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Soft Tissue and Bone. St. Louis: WHO Press. ISBN 9789283224136.
  2. 1 2 3 Buecker, P (2005). "Sarcoma: A Diagnosis of Patience". ESUN. 2 (5). Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  3. ↑ Longhi A, Errani C, De Paolis M, Mercuri M, Bacci G (Oct 2006). "Primary bone osteosarcoma in the pediatric age: state of the art". Cancer Treat Rev. 32 (6): 423–36. doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2006.05.005. PMID 16860938.
  4. 1 2 Morris, C (2005). "Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma (MFH)". ESUN. 2 (2). Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  5. ↑ Baker, L (2006). "A Rose is a Rose or a Thorn is a Thorn". ESUN. 3 (5). Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  6. ↑ Liposarcoma Treatment & Management~treatment at eMedicine
  7. ↑ "Rhabdomyosarcoma". Boston Children's Hospital.
  8. ↑ Wexler, L (2004). "Rhabdomyosarcoma". ESUN. 1 (4). Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  9. ↑ Osteosarcoma Treatment & Management~treatment at eMedicine
  10. ↑ Borden EC, Baker LH, Bell RS, et al. (Jun 2003). "Soft tissue sarcomas of adults: state of the translational science". Clin Cancer Res. 9 (6): 1941–56. PMID 12796356.
  11. ↑ "Cancer Facts & Figures 2009". American Cancer Society.
  12. ↑ Tran T, Davila JA, El-Serag HB (Jan 2005). "The epidemiology of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumors: an analysis of 1,458 cases from 1992 to 2000". Am J Gastroenterol. 100 (1): 162–8. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.40709.x. PMID 15654796.
  13. ↑ Darling, J (2007). "A Different View of Sarcoma Statistics". ESUN. 4 (6). Retrieved 2012-10-06.
  14. ↑ "Cancer Awareness Dates". American Society of Clinical Oncology.
  15. ↑ "Sarcoma Awareness Week 2016". Sarcoma UK.
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