In sarcoma, a general class of uncommon cancers, the cancer cells resemble or arise from normal cells in the body called “connective tissues.” Normal connective tissues include;

• Cartilage

• Blood vessels

• Bones

• Fat

• Nerves

• Deep skin tissues

• Muscle

“Sarcomas” is the name given to cancers of cells which look like any of these normal tissues. Based on the specific type of cell that makes up the cancer, sarcomas are sub-classified into the following:

• Liposarcomas (malignant tumors that develop from fat tissue)

• Leiomyosarcomas (malignant tumors that develop from smooth muscle tissue)

• Rhabdomyosarcoma (malignant tumors that resemble developing skeletal muscle)

• Synovial Sarcoma (malignant tumor that is made up of cells which look like the cells in joints)

• Angiosarcoma (malignant tumors which look like lymphatic vessels or blood)

• Fibrosarcoma (cancer of the fibroblast-type cells in the body that form scars and do other important connective functions)

• Neurofibrosarcoma or Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (MPNST) (a cells-cancer which surrounds nerves)

• GI Stromal Sarcoma or Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) (connective tissue cancerous cells that support the GI tract)

• Desmoid Tumor (not strictly a sarcoma, but since posing a risk of coming should be managed by a sarcoma management team)

• Peripheral Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) or Ewing’s Sarcoma (a class of diseases tht arise from very primitive cells in the body)

• Osteogenic Sarcoma or Osteosarcoma (a tumor of cells that form bone)

• Chondrosarcoma (a tumor of cells that form cartilage)