Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.

What is Soft Tissue Sarcoma?

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a rare, heterogeneous malignancy arising from connective tissues like muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels, or deep skin. Over 50 subtypes include leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle, 10-20%), liposarcoma (fat, 20%), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (15%), and synovial sarcoma (5-10%). In 2025, ~13,000 US cases annually, 1% of adult cancers, affecting limbs (60%), trunk, or head/neck, with median age 50-60.

Symptoms

Symptoms include a painless, growing lump/swelling (often in arms/legs), pain if tumor presses on nerves/muscles, limited mobility, abdominal pain (for retroperitoneal sarcomas), or gastrointestinal bleeding (visceral). Advanced cases cause weight loss, fatigue, or metastatic symptoms (lung common). Symptoms are subtle, mimicking benign lumps.

Causes

Causes involve genetic mutations (e.g., translocations in synovial sarcoma), with risk from radiation (5-10% therapy-related), chemicals (vinyl chloride), genetic syndromes (neurofibromatosis, Li-Fraumeni), and chronic lymphedema. In 2025, genomic studies show immune evasion and fusions as drivers.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis uses MRI for tumor characterization, CT for lung metastases, PET for activity, and core biopsy for histology/grade (FNCLCC system). Molecular testing identifies fusions (e.g., EWSR1). In 2025, AI and NGS improve subtype accuracy.

Treatment

Surgery (wide excision, limb-sparing) is primary, with radiation reducing recurrence by 25%. Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, ifosfamide) for high-risk/metastatic, response 20-40%. Targeted therapies (pazopanib for VEGF, larotrectinib for NTRK) and immunotherapy for select. In 2025, ADCs like pivekimab show 30% response.

Future Outlook

In 2025, 5-year survival is 65% localized, 16% metastatic. Advances improve metastatic to 25%. By 2030, CAR-T and AI could achieve 75% localized survival.

Sources

The information for soft tissue sarcoma is sourced from Mayo Clinic’s “Soft tissue sarcoma – Symptoms and causes” for symptoms; Cleveland Clinic’s “Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Symptoms, Treatment & Prognosis” for treatment; NCI’s “Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment” for diagnosis; Healthline’s “Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment” for overview; and PMC’s “Advances in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Therapy” for future outlook.