Risk Factors for Sarcoma

A risk factor is anything that may increase your risk for a disease. Risk factors for soft tissue sarcoma include:

• Previous radiation treatment for retinoblastoma, lymphoma, or breast, cervical cancer or gastrointestinal cancer
• Exposure to toxic chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides and Agent Orange

Genetics play a role in sarcoma

For some people with sarcoma, the diagnosis is related to an inherited genetic disorder. You may face increased risk for sarcoma if you have one of these genetic conditions:

• Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This syndrome due to a mutation in the tumor-suppressor gene TP53 increases risk for several cancer types, including sarcoma.
• Neurofibromatosis. This rare genetic condition leads to nerve tissue tumors in several body areas, and an increased risk for sarcoma.
• Retinoblastoma. A genetic mutation in the RB1 gene causes this cancer of the eye, which forms in the tissues of the retina. Retinoblastoma usually occurs in children younger than age 5.
• Tuberous sclerosis. This disorder causes noncancerous tumors to form in the kidneys, brain, eyes, heart, lungs, and skin.
• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). This condition causes numerous polyps (growths that protrude from mucous membranes) to form on the inside walls of the colon and rectum.
• Werner syndrome. This inherited disorder caused by a mutation in a gene involved in cell division is marked by rapid aging that begins in early adolescence.
• Basal cell nevus syndrome. This condition causes unusual facial features and disorders of the skin, bones, nervous system, eyes and endocrine glands.