Sarcoma: Adult Soft Tissue Cancer

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Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention TOPICS

What are the risk factors for soft tissue sarcomas?

A risk factor is anything that changes your chance of getting a disease like cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, unprotected exposure to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lung, and many other cancers. But risk factors don’t tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several, doesn’t mean that you will get the cancer. Also, many people get cancer without having a risk factor.

Scientists have found a few risk factors that make a person more likely to develop soft tissue sarcomas. These include:

  • Radiation
  • Certain family cancer syndromes
  • A damaged lymph system
  • Exposure to certain chemicals

Injury and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, and exercise are NOT linked to the risk of soft tissue sarcoma.

Radiation given to treat other cancers

Patients might develop sarcomas from radiation given to treat other cancers, like breast cancer or lymphoma. The sarcoma often starts in the area of the body that had been treated with radiation. The average time between the radiation treatments and the diagnosis of a sarcoma is about 10 years. Radiation exposure accounts for less than 5% of sarcomas.

Radiation therapy techniques have improved steadily over several decades. Treatments now target cancers more precisely, and more is known about selecting radiation doses. These advances are expected to reduce the number of cancers caused by radiation therapy. But because these cancers take so long to develop, the results of these changes may not be seen for a long time. Still, radiation therapy is used only when its benefits (improved survival rate and relief of symptoms) outweigh the risk of cancer and other complications. For more information, see Second Cancers in Adults.

Family cancer syndromes

Family cancer syndromes are disorders caused by gene defects (mutations) that people are born with (often inherited from a parent) that are linked to a high risk of getting certain cancers. Some family cancer syndromes increase a person's risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas.


Neurofibromatosis usually runs in families and is characterized by many benign tumors that form in nerves under the skin and in other parts of the body (neurofibromas). It is also known as von Recklinghausen disease. It is caused by a defect (mutation) in a gene called NF1. About 5% of people with neurofibromatosis will develop a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a neurofibroma.

Gardner syndrome

Gardner syndrome is a disease caused by defects in the APC gene. This syndrome is a type of familial adenomatous polyposis, and people with it get many polyps in the colon (and intestines) and have a high risk of getting colon cancer. It also causes problems outside the colon including desmoid tumors (these were discussed in the section “What is a soft tissue sarcoma?”).

Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Li-Fraumeni syndrome is caused by inherited defects in the TP53 gene. People affected by this syndrome have a high risk of cancer, such as breast cancer, brain tumors, and sarcomas. People with this syndrome are sensitive to the cancer-causing effects of radiation. If their cancer is treated with radiation, they have a very high chance of developing a new cancer in the part of the body that received the radiation.


Retinoblastoma is an eye cancer in children that can be caused by defects in the RB1 gene. Children with one of these gene defects also have a higher risk of developing bone or soft tissue sarcomas, especially if treated for cancer with radiation.

Werner syndrome

Werner syndrome is caused by defects in the RECQL2 gene. Children with this syndrome have problems like those seen in the elderly. These include cataracts, skin changes, and clogged heart arteries (arteriosclerosis) which can lead to heart attacks. They also have an increased risk of cancer, including soft tissue sarcomas.

Gorlin syndrome

Gorlin syndrome, also called nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is caused by defects in the PTCH1 gene. People with this syndrome have a high risk of developing many basal cell skin cancers. They also have an increased risk of getting fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

Tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis can be caused by a defect in the TSC1 gene. It can also be caused by a defect in another gene: TSC2. People with this syndrome often have seizures and learning problems. They get benign tumors in many different organs. They also get kidney problems, often along with a kidney tumor called angiomyolipoma. People with tuberous sclerosis have an increased risk of getting rhabdomyosarcoma.

Damaged lymph system

Lymph is a clear fluid containing immune system cells that is carried throughout the body by a series of lymph vessels. These vessels connect lymph nodes (small bean-shaped collections of immune system cells). When lymph nodes have been removed by surgery or damaged by radiation therapy, lymph fluid can build up and cause swelling. This is called lymphedema.

Lymphangiosarcoma (a malignant tumor that develops in lymph vessels) is a very rare complication of chronic lymphedema.


Exposure to vinyl chloride (a chemical used in making plastics) is a risk factor for developing sarcomas of the liver, but it has not been proven to cause soft tissue sarcomas. Arsenic has also been linked to a type of liver sarcoma but not soft tissue sarcoma. Exposure to dioxin and to herbicides that contain phenoxyacetic acid at high doses (such as might occur in people who work on farms) may also be risk factors, but this is not known for certain. There is no evidence that herbicides (weed killers) or insecticides, at levels encountered by the general public, cause sarcomas.


An injury is not a risk factor for developing sarcomas. But this issue has caused some confusion in the past. One reason is that an injured area might swell. That swelling could resemble a tumor but is not a true tumor. Also, when you are injured, the pain may draw your attention to the injured area. The area may be examined closely, and x-rays or other imaging studies may be obtained. This can make it more likely that any sarcoma that is present will be discovered, even though it may have been present for some time.

Last Medical Review: 12/29/2014
Last Revised: 02/09/2016