Angiosarcomas and other sarcomas of endothelial origin

Abstract

Although benign hemangiomas are among the most common diagnoses among connective tissue tumors, angiosarcomas and other sarcomas arising from blood vessels are rare, even among sarcomas. Because endothelial tumors have unique embryonal derivation compared with other sarcomas, it is not surprising they have unique characteristics. Herein are reviewed some of these unique characteristics and therapeutic options for patients with some of these diagnoses, highlighting the potential of new agents for these tumors, which will in all likelihood also impact treatment on more common cancers.

Keywords: Angiosarcoma; Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma; FLT4; KDR; Kaposi sarcoma; Organ transplant; Translocation; VEGF; Vascular sarcoma.