Personal Medical History, Family History of Cancer, and the Risk of Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

Soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) etiology is largely undefined.

We analyzed data from an Italian case-control study, including 498 incident, histologically confirmed STS cases and 969 hospital controls. Odds ratios (OR) of STS for self-reported personal medical history and family history of cancer were estimated using Firth penalized logistic regression models.

STS risk was significantly increased with a history of burns [OR, 2.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-5.47] and showed a nonsignificant excess with herpes zoster infection (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 0.65-8.23). Hypertension (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.94), hypercholesterolemia (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45-0.96), and tonsillectomy (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.51-0.93) were more frequent among controls. No associations were observed for hepatitis, diabetes, immune-mediated diseases, fractures, surgeries other than tonsillectomy, tooth extraction, or blood transfusion. Family history of cancer showed no major associations, except for STS (0.6% of cases, 0.1% of controls, OR >7) and kidney cancer (OR, 4.69; 95% CI, 1.74-12.7).

Our findings suggest a positive association with family history of STS although based on small numbers. Personal medical history and family history of other cancers had no major role; of interest are the suggestive associations of STS with a history of burns and herpes zoster.

Further research is needed to replicate our findings and to explore potential underlying mechanisms.