Smoking and Family Cancer History Are Associated With Sarcomas in A Japanese Population Study

Abstract Background: Sarcoma is a rare cancer, and it is also the cause of the development of various kinds of sarcomas, such as gene abnormalities, which has recently becoming evident due to advances of genetic testing. The approach to solve the origin of diseases is essential to elucidate both the external environmental factors and the internal genetic factors. However, the lifestyle habits, lifestyle-related diseases, personal and family cancer history of sarcoma patients remain unclear.Methods: A total of 1320 sarcoma patients were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire on lifestyle habits, life-style diseases, and the patient’s personal and family cancer history was completed at presentation. A total of 1320 controls were selected by propensity score matching for age and gender. Smoking, drinking, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus were compared. In addition, we investigated the incidence of a personal and family cancer history in sarcoma patients. Results: A smoking habit was the only independent risk factor for high-grade soft tissue sarcoma development in adults ≥20 years old (n=952), excluding low-grade and intermediate malignant soft tissue tumors (Odds ratio [OR], 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.88-3.20, p<0.001). The ORs of high-grade liposarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) were 2.56 and 3.00, respectively. Eight percent of sarcoma patients had a personal history of another cancer. Thirty percent of soft tissue sarcoma patients had a family history of cancer in a first-degree relatives (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, 52%; leiomyosarcoma, 46%). Conclusions: We confirmed that a smoking habit were associated with the development of high-grade soft tissue sarcomas. A family history of cancer might be associated with certain soft tissue sarcomas, but a further investigation will be necessary.