What are soft tissue sarcomas?

Soft tissue sarcoma is a type of malignant tumor originating from mesenchymal tissue. They can occur in various parts of the body, including subcutaneous tissue, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, connective tissue spaces, and cavity organ support stroma. There are many types of such tumors, and it is estimated that there are more than 50 types, each with its own unique histological characteristics and clinical manifestations.

In adults, fibrosarcoma is a common type of soft tissue sarcoma that usually affects the fibrous tissue of the legs, arms, or trunk. This sarcoma most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 20 and 60, but can occur at any age, including babies. Another rare type of cancer is alveolar soft tissue sarcoma, which mainly affects younger people and the tumors most commonly occur in the legs.

Angiosarcoma is a malignant tumor that can originate from blood vessels or lymphatic vessels. These tumors sometimes appear in parts of the body that received radiation therapy, such as breasts after radiation therapy and limbs with lymphedema. Clear cell sarcoma, a rare cancer that starts in the tendons of the arms or legs, has some of the characteristics of malignant melanoma under a microscope, although how it starts in parts of the body other than the skin is unclear.

In adolescents and young adults, desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a rare sarcoma that most commonly occurs in the abdomen. Epithelioid sarcoma most commonly occurs in the subcutaneous tissue of the hands, forearms, feet, or lower legs. This type of sarcoma is more common in adolescents and young adults.

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma is a slow-growing cancer that usually starts as a painless lump on the trunk or arms and legs and is more common in young to middle-aged people. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a sarcoma originating from the digestive tract. Although it originates from mesenchymal tissue, it has unique biological behavior and clinical manifestations.

Kaposi's sarcoma is a sarcoma that arises from cells lining lymphocytes or blood vessels and may be more common in immunosuppressed states. Leiomyosarcomas originate from smooth muscle tissue and can occur anywhere in the body, including the abdomen, arms, legs, or uterus.

Liposarcomas are malignant tumors of fatty tissue. They can occur anywhere in the body, but are most common in the thighs, behind the knees, and on the inside of the back of the abdomen. This type of sarcoma mostly occurs in adults aged 50 to 65 years. Malignant mesenchymal tumors are rare sarcomas that combine features of fibrosarcomas with those of other types of sarcomas.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors include neurofibrosarcoma, malignant schwannomas, and neurogenic sarcomas, which originate from cells surrounding nerves. Low-grade myxofibrosarcoma most commonly occurs in the arms and legs of older adults, and multiple tumors may occur. Rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children, arises from striated muscle cells or mesenchymal cells that differentiate into striated muscle cells.

Synovial sarcoma is a malignant tumor of tissues around joints. The most common sites include hip joints, knee joints, ankle joints, and shoulder joints. This tumor is more common in children and young adults, but can also occur in older adults. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS), formerly known as malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), most commonly occurs in the arms or legs and may spread to distant parts of the body.

In summary, soft tissue sarcomas are a complex and diverse class of malignant tumors, and their diagnosis and treatment require a comprehensive consideration of multiple factors. Because each type of sarcoma has unique characteristics and clinical manifestations, doctors need to make individualized decisions based on the patient's specific circumstances when formulating treatment plans.

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(Click to view an introduction to drugs for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma)

Reference materials: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/about/soft-tissue-sarcoma.html