Risk Factors for Ewing Sarcoma

Executive Summary

Risk factors influence the chance of developing cancer among individuals, but individuals with no risk factors also develop cancer. Some of the common risk factors that develop the risk of Ewing sarcoma include genetic changes, chromosomal translocation, gender, age, and ethnicity. Genetic changes occur for an unknown reason. The translocation is typically between chromosomes 22 and 11, although it can also happen between chromosomes 22 and 21, 22 and 7, and 22 and 17.   Ewing sarcoma is more common among boys than girls. It can occur at any age. It frequently occurs in white people and is rare in African and the United States Black people. 

Risk Factors Associated with Ewing Sarcoma

A risk factor can be anything that influences the development of any cancer. But having a risk factor, or many does not give certainty of having particular cancer. Some people with no risk factors can also develop cancer. 

But the below-mentioned factors may raise a person’s chance of developing Ewing sarcoma ^​1​:

• Genetic changes – Changes in a tumor cell’s chromosomes appear to be responsible for Ewing sarcoma, but the disease is not inherited, which means it isn’t passed down from a parent to a child. Genetic changes occur for an unknown reason.
• A high percentage of Ewing sarcoma cells have a chromosomal translocation, meaning that small pieces of genetic material have swapped places inside the tumor cell. The translocation is typically between chromosomes 22 and 11, although it can also occur between chromosomes 22 and 21, 22 and 7, and 22 and 17. The fusion of these bits of genetic material leads to the uncontrollable growth of Ewing sarcoma cells.
• Gender – Ewing sarcoma is more common among boys than girls.
• Age – Ewing sarcoma can occur at any age. But more than half of people with Ewing sarcoma are between 10 and 20, with a median age of 15.
• Race/ethnicity – Ewing sarcoma frequently occurs in white people and is rare in Black people in the Africa and United States. Ewing sarcoma has been reported in Japan and is not common in China.

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