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Muscle cancer, or muscle sarcoma, is a rare type of malignant tumour that develops in the body's connective tissue, such as fat, muscle, nerves, and blood vessels. Sarcomas can be further classified into two types: bone sarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas. Soft tissue sarcomas, which include skeletal muscle sarcomas and leiomyosarcomas, are the type that starts in the muscle. They can form anywhere in the body but are most commonly found in the arms, legs, abdomen, and chest. Symptoms of muscle sarcomas depend on the tumour's size and location, and they may include a lump or swelling in soft tissue, sinusitis, unilateral deafness, and urinary retention. Treatment options for muscle sarcomas include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Soft tissue sarcoma, Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) |
| Origin | Muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, bone, nerves, tendons |
| Symptoms | Lump, swelling, pain, heavy bleeding while urinating, troubled bowel movements, sinusitis, unilateral deafness, urinary retention, jaundice |
| Risk factors | Exposure to chemicals, radiation, inherited syndromes |
| Treatment | Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy |
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Soft tissue sarcoma
There are more than 50 different types of soft tissue sarcomas. Some are quite rare. Some soft tissue tumours are benign (non-cancerous) and cannot spread to other parts of the body. Some soft tissue tumours behave in ways that are somewhere between cancer and non-cancer; these are called intermediate soft tissue tumours. When the word sarcoma is part of the name of a disease, it means the tumour is malignant (cancerous).
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the medical term for a type of tumour that originates in cells (called rhabdomyoblasts) that develop into skeletal muscles. RMS is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children, though it can be found in adults as well. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is a common type of RMS that mostly affects children under five years of age, with a smaller peak in adolescence. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is mostly seen in adolescents and young adults. This type of tumour often occurs in the large muscles of the trunk, arms, and legs and requires more intensive treatment. Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare subtype that occurs in older adults (60–70 years of age). It is less common in children and often develops in the head and neck, lower extremities, such as the leg, ankle, and foot. Spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma is another rare subtype that can affect all age groups and usually develops in the head and neck in adults.
Liposarcomas are malignant tumours of fat tissue that can start anywhere in the body but most often start in the thigh, behind the knee, and inside the back of the abdomen. They occur mostly in adults between 50 and 65 years old. Infantile fibrosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children under one year of age. It tends to be slow-growing and is less likely to spread to other organs than adult fibrosarcomas. Adult fibrosarcoma usually affects fibrous tissue in the legs, arms, or trunk. It's most common in people between 20 and 60 years old but can occur in people of any age, even infants. Angiosarcoma can start in blood vessels (hemangiosarcomas) or in lymph vessels (lymphangiosarcomas). These tumours sometimes start in a part of the body that has been treated with radiation.
Signs of soft tissue sarcoma include a lump or swelling in soft tissue. Sometimes there are no signs or symptoms until the tumour is large and presses on nearby nerves or other parts of the body. The symptoms of skeletal muscle sarcoma depend on where the tumour has formed in the body. If the tumour is in the head or neck area, symptoms may include sinusitis, unilateral deafness, urinary retention, and jaundice. Treatment for skeletal muscle sarcoma in adults can include a combination of traditional treatments (such as surgery and radiation) and new treatments (like clinical trials and targeted therapy).
A recent Phase IIa clinical trial evaluated the preliminary efficacy and safety of intratumoural tigilanol tiglate in patients with advanced and/or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. The results indicated that tigilanol tiglate is well tolerated and shows promising efficacy in reducing tumour volume, with 80% of patients experiencing complete (100%) ablation or partial (≥30%) ablation of their tumours.
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Leiomyosarcoma
Muscle cancer, or soft tissue sarcoma, refers to cancer that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body. One of the most common subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma is Leiomyosarcoma (LMS). This is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that originates in the smooth muscles of the body. Smooth muscles are found in the hollow organs of the body, including the intestines, stomach, bladder, and blood vessels. In females, there is also smooth muscle in the uterus.
LMS is found most frequently in the abdomen or uterus, but it can also occur in the extremities and trunk. It is a fast-growing cancer and can quickly spread to other parts of the body. The symptoms of LMS depend on the size and location of the tumour, but they can include a lump or swelling in soft tissue, sinusitis, unilateral deafness, urinary retention, and jaundice.
LMS is typically diagnosed through a core needle biopsy, and treatment depends on several factors, including the size, grade, and location of the tumour, as well as the patient's age and ability to tolerate aggressive therapy. Surgery is the primary treatment option, often combined with radiation and chemotherapy.
LMS is a rare cancer, with only about 20 to 30 children diagnosed in the United States each year. In adults, it accounts for between 10% to 20% of soft tissue sarcoma cases. It is more common in women, particularly perimenopausal women, and is associated with RB1 and PTEN tumour suppressor gene mutations.
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Rhabdomyosarcoma
Muscle cancer, or soft tissue sarcoma, is a type of cancer that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body. One type of soft tissue sarcoma is skeletal muscle sarcoma, which can form anywhere in the body but is typically found in the arms and legs.
A type of skeletal muscle sarcoma is rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), which is a malignant tumour that originates in rhabdomyoblast cells—cells that develop into skeletal muscles. RMS can develop in both children and adults, but it is more common in children due to its embryonic origins. The four main forms of RMS are:
- Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: This is the most common type, typically affecting children under five years old, with a smaller peak in adolescence. It usually occurs in the head and neck area, bladder, vagina, or near the prostate and testicles, but it can develop anywhere in the body.
- Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma: This type is mostly seen in adolescents and young adults and often occurs in the large muscles of the trunk, arms, and legs. It grows quickly and requires intensive treatment.
- Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma: This rare subtype occurs in older adults (60–70 years old) and arises in the lower extremities, such as the leg, ankle, and foot. It can also develop in the head and neck. Like alveolar RMS, it grows rapidly and demands intensive treatment.
- Spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma: This rare subtype can affect individuals of all ages. In adults, it usually develops in the head and neck, while in infants, it is typically found in the trunk area.
The signs and symptoms of RMS depend on the location of the tumour in the body. However, common indicators include lumps or swelling that continue to grow, pain, heavy bleeding while urinating, and troubled bowel movements. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these symptoms, please consult a physician.
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Symptoms and diagnosis
Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare cancer that causes tumours in muscles and other soft tissues of the body, including fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, ligaments, and tendons. The tumours can be found anywhere in the body but often appear in the arms, legs, chest, or abdomen.
Soft tissue sarcoma is usually indicated by a lump somewhere on the body. This lump is typically painless, solid to the touch, and hard to move around under the skin. As the lump grows, it can become painful and press on nearby nerves or other body parts. The presence of lumps and swellings does not necessarily indicate cancer, but it is important to get them checked by a healthcare provider.
Other symptoms of soft tissue sarcoma depend on the location of the tumour in the body. For example, tumours in the arms, legs, or lower back can affect nerves, while tumours in the joints, belly, arms, legs, or lungs may cause different symptoms. In some cases, there may be no signs or symptoms until the tumour becomes large enough to press on surrounding structures.
If you experience any of the mentioned symptoms, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional, such as a general practitioner (GP). They may examine the lump, order blood tests, and refer you for an ultrasound scan or other specialised tests to confirm the diagnosis.
It is important to note that soft tissue sarcoma is a rare cancer, and survival rates vary depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. Early detection through awareness of symptoms can improve treatment outcomes.
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Treatment
Muscle cancer refers to soft tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer that causes tumours to form in the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and tissues around joints. Soft tissue sarcoma can occur anywhere in the body but is most common in the head, neck, arms, legs, trunk, and
Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that grows in the smooth muscles of the body, including the intestines, stomach, bladder, blood vessels, and uterus. LMS is an aggressive cancer that can grow quickly, and treatment is more difficult once it has spread. Surgery is the best option for treating LMS, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
In addition to surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, patients may also consider participating in clinical trials to benefit from newer treatments.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle cancer refers to a group of rare cancers called sarcomas, which develop in the body's soft tissues, such as muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and tendons.
There are two main types of muscle cancer: soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas. Soft tissue sarcomas, such as leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and skeletal muscle sarcoma, develop in the muscles and surrounding connective tissues. Bone sarcomas, like osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma, originate in the bones.
The symptoms of muscle cancer vary depending on the location of the tumor. Common signs include lumps or swelling on the skin, bone fractures, sinusitis, unilateral deafness, and jaundice. In some cases, there may be no symptoms until the tumor grows large enough to press on nearby nerves or organs.
Treatment options for muscle cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The treatment plan depends on the specific type of sarcoma, the tumor's size and location, and the patient's overall health.
The exact cause of muscle cancer is unknown, but certain factors increase the risk of developing sarcomas. These include exposure to chemicals, high doses of radiation, inherited syndromes, and certain viral infections. Early detection and diagnosis are crucial for improving prognosis and treatment outcomes.
