What causes sarcoma and what are its risk factors?

There are very few known risk factors for sarcomas and patients do not always present with them. However, some causes and risk factors may include:

• Family history of cancer-related syndromes such as neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis can cause multiple benign enlargements of nerve sheaths, leading to a higher risk of one of these enlarged nerve sheaths turning cancerous. Other syndromes that may increase risk are Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, Carney-Stratakis syndrome, hereditary retinoblastoma, neurofibromatosis and BRCA2 gene mutations.
• Past radiotherapy treatment can lead to a slightly higher chance of developing a sarcoma within the previously radiated area. This can occur years later.
• Exposure to certain toxic chemicals such as industrial chemicals or herbicides.
• A damaged lymphatic system, the network of tissues, vessels and organs that are an important part of the immune system.