Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma (ASPS) is a very rare, slow-growing tumor of unknown origin, that arises mainly in children and young adults.
ASPS is a rare cancer. While sarcomas constitute about 1% of all cancers, ASPS is less than 1% of all sarcoma cases.
ASPS is a sarcoma, indicating that this cancer initially arises in tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body. While ASPS is soft tissue sarcoma, it may spread and grow inside bones.
ASPS is highly angiogenic. It involves intensive growth of new blood vessels that connect the tumor to the blood system, and enable dissemination of tumor cells into the blood stream. Those tumor cells can then easily migrate into other parts of the body - typically the lungs and the brain.
ASPS may exist in the patient's body for a long time before being diagnosed. The primary tumor may grow large, gradually pushing aside surrounding tissues, before causing discomfort.
ASPS symptoms may either be painless swelling or soreness caused by the compressed nerves or muscles affecting the range of motion in the area.