There is approximately 1.3 million new cases of leukaemia and 1.4 million new cases of soft-tissue sarcoma per year in the United States. Soft-tissue sarcomas are the most common primary cancer in patients under 30 years of age.
A sarcoma is a malignancy that arises in the connective tissues. The most common form is soft tissue sarcoma and the less common forms include mesenchymal tumors that affect the limbs. Sarcomas can be categorized into soft tissue sarcomas and germ cell tumors which originate from the gonads. The most common subtype of soft tissue sarcoma is liposarcoma. Mesenchymal tumors of the soft tissue that affect the limbs and muscles include Ewing sarcoma, GIST, and synovial sarcoma.
Most sarcomiogenic tumor cells are sensitive to chemotherapy. Radiation can be used to shrink solid tumors. Local chemotherapy may be of limited efficacy in sarcomas. Local chemotherapy may have value with inoperable or incurable sarcomas. Targeted therapy is available now in the United States for metastatic sarcoma. Targeted treatment includes the use of imatinib in the treatment of gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers.\n
There is no single sign of sarcoma; therefore, a thorough history and physical examination to look for any potentially visible sign of an tumour is recommended. The physical examination must be supplemented with an appropriate imaging review. When an tumour seems potentially visible, a biopsy is often indicated to exclude a sarcoma.
Current research in sarcoma suggests that it might be possible to devise effective means of eradicating cancer cells with the use of immune-mediated cytotoxic agents.
Currently ascorbic acid has not been shown to be an effective treatment. A possible explanation for this discrepancy is that people with a severe disease, such as that of chronic neutropenia have little in their diets that stimulates ascorbic acid synthesis as they lack neutrophils. To date, there have been four published studies on ascorbic acid and neoplastic conditions; three showed a positive effect while one showed none. This indicates that ascorbic acid supplementation may be unnecessary in those patients already receiving ascorbic acid.
The last five years have ushered in a new era in which new drugs and therapeutics are being developed, and they may eventually become more easily accessible, so we may one day be able to offer treatment for sarcoma. But as Dr. Segev states, it will be “one long, hard road,” until then - until it gets a little bit better. Still, there are new developments in the area from the discovery of new drugs, like cilengitide, as well as biologics, like cetuximab. It may not necessarily mean that the next breakthrough is coming soon, but it can signify that sarcoma will get better treatment.
The average age the patients diagnosed was 41 years. Patients diagnosed earlier than 39 years of age are more likely to have a more aggressive form of the disease. If sarcoma is found on a patient who's <40 years of age and has no family history, a more aggressive type is more likely.
No placebo controlled trials exist to assess its long-term effects in children with cancer. Studies in rats have shown the efficacy of oral ascorbyl phosphate. There is no indication of harmful health effects of ascorbate in children with cancer and their parents. The most important point is the requirement for dose adjustment of ascorbate and its potential role as an adjuvant treatment with standard treatments. Further investigations are needed.
In the majority of sarcomas, the tumor can be eliminated surgically and hence the prognosis is excellent except for a few sarcomas like Ewing's sarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma which are often associated with a higher risk of relapse and hence prognosis is more guarded.\n\nSarcoma is one of the ten most common cancers worldwide. Sarcoma is the second most common cancer in the UK.