Re: rhabdymyosarcoma

["John Moulder" <jmoulder@post.its.mcw.edu>]

> What is rhabdomyosarcoma?

A solid tumor arising from striated muscle.  It accounts for 5-10% of 
childhood cancer.  It is very rare in adults.
  
> What are risk factors? 

Essentially none are known for certain.  In adults other types of soft tissue 
sarcomas are associated with radiotherapy, but I don't know of any evidence in 
children.

There are suggestions of a link with second-hand smoke.

In animals, similar tumors can be induced by a number of strong chemical 
carcinogens such as methylcolanthrene and possibly by viruses

> What is the usual prognosis? 

3-yr survival rates are in the 50-90% range depending in stage.

> How radiosensitive are the tissues in which it occurs?

Highly variable
  
> What are the accepted treatments? 

Generally surgical removal of tumor, rads for residual disease and chemo for 
mets.
 
> What is the expected incidence? 
> Have any specific substances (artificial or otherwise) been linked to 
> it

See above.

> Are there any WWW sites that would carry this information on 
> this and other 
> 	cancers so I won't have to ask these questions again? 

I believe there are pages at Onco-Link (U Penn) and NCI


John Moulder (jmoulder@its.mcw.edu)
Radiation Oncology
Medical College of Wisconsin