Related Experiment Videos
Cancers of the soft tissues
1Division for Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen.
Cancer Surveys
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare cancers with stable incidence and slight survival improvements. Incidence and mortality rates vary, influenced by classification changes and potential risk factors like genetics and environmental agents.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignancies with a higher incidence in males.
- International incidence shows minimal variation, with slight increases in mortality in some regions over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze incidence, mortality, and survival trends of soft tissue sarcomas.
- To identify potential risk factors and discuss classification challenges impacting data interpretation.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data on soft tissue sarcoma incidence, mortality, and survival.
- Analysis of temporal and international variations in STS rates.
- Discussion of diagnostic classification systems (ICD) and their impact on reported data.
Main Results:
- STS incidence is higher in males (0.9-4.3 per 100,000) than females (0.7-2.6 per 100,000).
- Survival rates have shown slight improvement from the 1950s/60s to the late 1980s.
- Classification complexities, particularly with the ICD system, affect incidence and mortality data interpretation.
Conclusions:
- STS trends require careful interpretation due to classification issues and data instability.
- While major risk factors remain elusive, genetics, radiation, and agricultural chemicals are implicated.
- Further research into infectious agents and immunological mechanisms, especially for Kaposi's sarcoma, is crucial.