Dr. Wagner on Risk Factors for Angiosarcoma

Michael J. Wagner, MD, assistant professor, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses known risk factors for developing angiosarcoma.

Radiation exposure is a known cause of angiosarcoma, particuarly patients who have had breast-conserving therapy for breast cancer, according to Wagner. However, only a small fraction of those who are exposed to radiation in this way will eventually develop angiosarcoma, Wagner adds.

It has recently been discovered that exposure to ultraviolet light is associated with angiosarcoma, particularly when the disease presents on the face or scalp, Wagner says. Investigators have already started incorporating that information into their clinical trials, Wagner concludes.