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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.

All blood vessels and lymphatics are lined by endothelial cells; the layer being called the endothelium. The tumor begins as a growth of rapidly proliferating immature cells, but can quickly become cancerous and spread to many other systems.

Like most forms of cancer, angiosarcoma is uncontrolled cell replication, but its relation to the circulatory system poses unique threats to the health of any individual.

Hemangiosarcoma, or blood -fed sarcoma, occurs when the blood vessels grow directly into the tumor filling it with blood. Cancerous cells can spread cancer to other healthy systems of the body when the malignancy affects the blood. This makes it extremely dangerous. Because of its affect on the blood vessels, angiosarcoma is aggressive, hard to treat and frequently recurs.

Lymphangiosarcoma is a tumor cell that begins in the endothelium layer of the lymphatic vessels. The lymph systems job is to distribute antibodies to the body. Any time the process is disrupted by these cancer cells it can spreads these deadly cells throughout the body.

Angiosarcomas may occur in any organ of the body, but are more frequently found in skin and soft tissue. They can originate in the liver, breast, spleen, bone or heart.

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.

However, hemangiosarcoma is known to be linked to exposure of toxins such as, thorium dioxide, vinyl chloride, or arsenic. Stewart ” Theves symptom is an example of this. Lymphedema occurs after exposure to breast care treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. It is a hemangiosarcoma

People who have received treatments like radiation and chemotherapy have a higher risk of angiosarcoma. Exposure to vinyl chloride used in polymerization in the plastic industry can lead to angiosarcomas of liver and soft tissue. Though exposure to these pre-conditions or environmental toxins may have occurred thirty years ago, people can still develop these cancerous tumors.

All these types of angiosarcomas are highly aggressive and destroy the body. Prognosis is usually poor and mortality rate high because of the high rate of local recurrence and because they are often misdiagnosed. Vascular malignant tumors do not respond well to chemotherapy and radiation which makes them very difficult to treat.

Research, around the world, is being done on P53, a tumor suppressor gene and its surrounding molecules. The research continues to be done in hope that one day new treatments may be found for this life threatening cancer.

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