Sarcoma

The basic unit of life is the cell. The cells grow, regenerate and develop in the body of the living organisms for their survival. Cells make new cells from the preexisting cells, which is an essential process which occurs in all living organisms. There is a genetic control over the growth and regeneration of cells in the body. 

However, if the growth and production of these cells grow out of control, they form a mass of cells called tumour production. Moreover, the cancerous growth of cells is the abnormal growth of cells to form a group of cells called a tumour that can be benign or malignant. Tumour formation does not occur in leukaemia cancer. There are various types of cancers based on their site of origin in the body. It includes carcinomas (e.g. prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer etc.), sarcomas (which occur in the tissues that support and connect the body such as fat, muscles, tendons etc.), leukaemias (cancer of the blood) and lymphomas (cancerous growth in the lymphatic system). 

Sarcoma Meaning:

Sarcomas are cancers that develop from bones or soft tissues, such as fat, bones, muscles, nerves, lymph vessels, and tendons. Because bones and soft tissues can be found nearly everywhere in the body, a sarcoma can start in any part of the body. Approximately 60% of sarcomas develop in an arm or leg. About 30% of them begin in the abdomen or torso region. Approximately 10% of sarcomas occur in the head or neck region of the body. Sarcomas can be classified into two major categories that are soft tissue sarcoma and primary bone sarcoma.

Types of Sarcomas:

Sarcomas in soft tissues: 

Soft-tissue sarcomas are a group of cancers that affect the connective tissues which support and connect the body. The tissues which support and connect the body are blood vessels, fat cells, muscles, nerves, lymph vessels, joints, linings, tendons, etc. As these soft tissues are present all over the body, these kinds of sarcomas can occur almost anywhere. When the soft tissue sarcomas begin, they can cause pain or interfere with a body’s everyday activities. 

Soft tissue sarcomas are the types of sarcomas which occur in the body’s soft tissues such as muscles and blood vessels. Soft tissue sarcomas examples include:

• Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (sarcomas of  fibrous tissue), 
• Liposarcoma (sarcomas in fatty tissue),
• Leiomyosarcoma (sarcomas in the muscles of organs in the pelvis and abdomen)
• Synovial sarcoma (sarcomas in the cells near the tendons and joints)
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (sarcomas in the skin)
• Angiosarcoma (sarcomas in the inner lining of the blood vessels)
• Kaposi sarcoma (sarcomas in the cells that line lymph or blood vessels),
• A gastrointestinal stromal tumour (sarcomas in the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract)
• Rhabdomyosarcoma (sarcomas in cells that form skeletal muscles)
• Primary alveolar soft-part sarcoma 
• Pleomorphic sarcoma – (sarcomas in the soft tissues of the abdomen, arms and legs)

• Aggressive fibromatosis or Desmoid tumours occur in the fibroblasts.

Primary Bone Sarcomas:

Another type of sarcoma is primary bone sarcomas, a less common type of sarcoma. 

Bone sarcoma examples are as follows:

• Osteosarcoma (occurs in cells that form bones)
• Ewing sarcoma (occurs in bone cells or immature soft tissue)
• Giant cell tumour, and chondrosarcoma (occurs in cartilage)
• Synovial sarcoma – (occurs in the cells near the tendons and joints)

Aetiology of Sarcomas: 

Sarcomas are of many varieties and can occur and affect throughout or any part of the body. There are many causative factors of Sarcomas. 

Few of the major causative factors we shall discuss herein below for our understanding:

• Genetic factors: There may be mutational changes in the germlines, resulting in the development of tumours. Examples are Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Von Recklinghausen Disease, and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. All three examples include the development of sarcomas due to mutational changes in the genes, such as a mutation in the NF1 gene, TP53 gene, and APC gene respectively.  

• Radiations: Exposure to various carcinogenic radiation contributes to the development of cancer in patients and poses a long-term risk.

• Carcinogens: Various carcinogens such as plastics, arsenic polyvinyl chloride, etc. 

Conclusion

Sarcomas are a cancer of the connective tissues and may occur in bone, cartilage, fat, muscles, tendons, bone, or any soft tissue of the human body. It is of so many types that it can affect any part of the body and occur throughout it. These are rarer in comparison to carcinomas. Once they develop in any part of the body, it may affect the adjacent tissues also such that there may be pressure or pain in the adjacent nerves and tissues. Since sarcomas are of a wide variety, proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial.