Fundamental Difference Between Sarcoma and Carcinoma
Sarcomas are malignant tumors arising from mesenchymal cell origin (connective tissues), while carcinomas arise from epithelial cells—this represents a fundamental difference in their cellular origin and tissue type.
Cell of Origin
- Sarcomas originate from mesenchymal cells, which form the body's connective and supportive tissues 1
- Carcinomas arise from epithelial cells that line organs and body surfaces (general medical knowledge)
Tissue Types Involved
Sarcomas develop from:
- Fat tissue 1
- Muscle (smooth and skeletal) 1
- Nerve and nerve sheath tissues 1
- Blood vessels 1
- Other connective tissues 1
- Bone 1
Carcinomas develop from epithelial tissues lining organs such as the lung, breast, colon, prostate, and skin (general medical knowledge).
Relative Frequency
- Sarcomas are rare, accounting for approximately 1% of all adult malignancies and 15% of pediatric malignancies 1
- Carcinomas are common, representing the vast majority (>80%) of all cancers in adults (general medical knowledge)
Heterogeneity and Subtypes
- More than 50 different histologic subtypes of soft tissue sarcomas have been identified 1, 2
- Each sarcoma subtype is as unique from another as breast carcinoma is from colon carcinoma, with characteristic differences in cell of origin, disease site, metastatic patterns, and chemosensitivity 3, 2
- Common sarcoma subtypes include pleomorphic sarcoma, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors 1
Clinical Implications
The mesenchymal versus epithelial origin distinction is not merely academic—it fundamentally affects tumor behavior, metastatic patterns, treatment approaches, and prognosis. 4, 5
Important Caveat
Some tumors can appear confusing: carcinosarcomas (also called metaplastic breast carcinomas) are actually epithelial neoplasms despite their name, and their treatment should be tailored to their epithelial nature rather than treated as true sarcomas 1.