While the exact cause of adult soft tissue sarcoma is not known, some genetic alterations, environmental, and other factors have been identified as possible causes. Because of the large variety of sarcomas that exist, some factors may contribute to the cause of specific types of sarcoma (and not all types). For example: Paget's disease has been linked to osteosarcoma; and Ollier's disease may develop into chondrosarcoma.
Environmental risk factors related to sarcomas include pollutants, smoking, chemicals, infectious disease and radiation. Some sarcomas have been related to occupational exposures which include:
- Cholorophenoles
- Copper exposure
- Androgenic-anabolic steroids
- Herbicides
- Arsenic
- Dioxins
- Ionizing radiation
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Exposure in the workplace to higher concentrations of certain chemicals (i.e. radon or asbestos), metals and ionizing radiation provides a greater risk, which increases substantially with prolonged exposure, more intense exposure, and higher concentrations of pollutants.
Some hereditary conditions have been identified as influencing factors as well. These include:
- Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumors syndrome (GIST)
- Hereditary leiomyomatosis & renal cell syndrome
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Von Recklinghausen disease
- Hereditary retinoblastoma (Rb)
- Werner syndrome
- Bloom syndrome
It is important to note that immune suppression with conditions such as the Epstein Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has also been linked to some sarcomas.
In general, all cancer is caused by a sequence of genetic alterations that influence the loss of tumor-suppressor gene (TSG) function which results in damage to cell growth regulation. This applies to sarcoma as well as two very common genes that are often found to be altered in sarcomas are the p53 gene and the retinoblastoma (Rb) gene.
Finally, factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, and a diet high in saturated fat and low in fiber has the potential to influence one's overall risk of cancer.
Reference:
Samuel, L. C. (2010). Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas. In C.H. Yarbro, D. Wujcik, and B.H. Gobel (Eds.). Cancer nursing: Principles and practice (7th Ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett.