Electro-therapies for sarcomas

Abstract

Sarcomas are cancers of the bones and soft tissues.1,2 They are generally divided into soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and bone sarcomas based on their different mesenchymal origins and anatomical locations. They develop from cells that maintain the structure or cushion other organs in our bodies, including bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and tendons. The different types of sarcomas are: a) Primary bone sarcomas, including Chondrosarcoma, Ewing Sarcoma, and Osteosarcoma. The various soft tissue sarcomas are: Angiosarcoma, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST), Kaposi Sarcoma, Leiomyosarcoma, Liposarcoma, Synovial Sarcoma, Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Desmoid Fibromatosis and Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis.2 They are uncommon and make up only 1 percent of all adult cancers.1 However, in children and young adults of up to 30years age, its occurrence is higher; up to 3/100,000 happen and especially Ewing Sarcoma is experienced by teens. Since sarcomas are transported by blood, their spread is quicker and often secondaries are possible, compared to other cancers, such as carcinomas. About 80 percent of sarcomas begin in the body’s soft tissues (cartilage, muscle, fat, and tendons). The other 20 percent arise in the bones. Medical news today1 indicates that 60% of sarcoma starts in an arm or leg, 30% in abdomen or torso and 10% in neck or head. The greatest numbers of bone tumors are metastatic and spread to lung, colon, or breast. Figure 1 shows different types of sarcomas including angiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, etc.3