Angiosarcoma: Understanding What it is and What are the Risk Factors

by Bridgett Manfield

A malignant and rapid growing cancer, angiosarcoma is also highly invasive. The endothelial cells that line the walls of the blood and lymphatic vessels are the location from which the tumors arise. Endothelial cells form the layer called the endothelium and line all the blood vessels and lymphatics. Beginning as a growth of rapidly proliferating immature cells, the tumors quickly become cancerous and can spread to many other systems in the body. The unique health threat of angiosarcoma is its relationship to the circulatory system. It is like most forms of cancer an uncontrolled cell replication. Hemangiosarcoma is when the tumor is filled with blood because the blood vessels grow directly into it. When a malignant condition is within the circulatory system it is very dangerous because the cancerous cells can spread the cancer easily to otherwise healthy systems. Angiosarcoma proves to be an aggressive, difficult to treat form of cancer because it directly affects the blood vessels. It also has a high recurrance rate. Lymphangiosarcoma is an angiosarcoma that comes from the endothelial cells of the lymphatic vessels. The job of the lymph system is to distribute antibodies through the body and if the cancer interrupts this process, it will affect the lymph or blood and it can be fatal. Any organ of the body may develop angiosarcoma although the skin and soft tissue are the most common areas where it is found. The liver, spleen, hear, breast or bone can all be sites where it originates. Cutaneous angiosarcoma, the most common form of angiosarcoma, is most often found in elderly persons. The tumors are primarily located on the head and neck. There is no known cause of angiosarcomas. Researchers have been able to identify risk factors that may lead to a higher chance of developing the tumors. Hemangiosarcomas are commonly associated with toxic exposure to thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), vinyl chloride, and arsenic. Stewart-Treves syndrome is a form of hemangiosarcoma due to lymphedema, usually following mastectomy and radiotherapy for breast cancer Treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy can lead to a higher risk of angiosarcoma for the people who have received them. Vinyl chloride exposure is an issue for people who have worked in the plastic industry. This increases the risk of angiosarcoma of the liver and soft tissues. Even if the exposure to these toxins or pre-conditions was in the past, as long as 30 years ago, cancerous tumors may still develop. All Angiosarcomas tend to be aggressive. The tumors have a high local recurrence rate and often misdiagnosed, leading to a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. Malignant vascular tumors are clinically aggressive and difficult to treat, usually not responding well to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation. Many researchers are examining P53, a tumor suppressor gene and its surrounding molecules. Laboratories all around the world are studying this gene. This is in hopes that new treatments will arise one day to treat this life-threatening cancer.

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