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Soft tissue sarcoma stages

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by

Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science

This page was updated on June 6, 2022.


Making an educated treatment decision begins with the stage, or progression, of the disease. The stage of disease is one of the most important factors in evaluating soft tissue sarcoma treatment options.

The American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system is commonly used to stage soft tissue sarcoma. This system is defined by three key components: tumors, lymph nodes and the presence or absence of tumor metastases (spread). Each category (T, N and M) is assessed and rated.

Grade (G) is also a determining factor used when staging soft tissue sarcoma. The G indicates the rate the tumor is likely to grow and spread based upon the appearance of the cancerous cells under the microscope. Soft tissue sarcomas are graded from G1 to G3, with higher grade sarcomas having a greater likelihood of growing and spreading at a faster and more aggressive rate than lower grade sarcomas.

The soft tissue sarcoma staging process involves several values, including:

T (tumor): describes the size of the original tumor. T1 means the tumor is 5 cm or less across, T2 means it is greater than 5 cm. The letter “a” (T1a, T2a) indicates that the tumor is near the surface of the body, while “b” (T1b, T2b) indicates it is deeper in the body.

N (node): indicates whether the cancer is present in the regional lymph nodes. N0 indicates that the tumor has not spread to the lymph nodes, and N1 means that it has spread to the lymph nodes.

M (metastasis): refers to whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. M0 means that the tumor has not spread, while M1 indicates that the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

The T, N and M ratings are combined with the grade to determine the stage of soft tissue sarcoma, characterized as stage 0 to stage 4. Determining the patient’s exact stage of soft tissue sarcoma is extremely important in developing his or her personalized treatment plan. Other factors, such as the type and location of the sarcoma, will also play a role in developing an individualized treatment plan.

Stage 1 soft tissue sarcoma: This stage has two subcategories:

  • Stage 1A: The tumor is smaller than 5 cm (2 inches) across and has not spread to the lymph nodes or to distant sites. At this stage of soft tissue sarcoma, the cancer is considered grade 1, or it cannot be assessed.
  • Stage 1B: The tumor is larger than 5 cm across and has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant sites. It is either grade 1 or cannot be assessed.

Stage 2 soft tissue sarcoma: This stage has two subcategories:

  • Stage 2A: The tumor is not larger than 5 cm across, and it has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant sites. However, the cancer is grade 2 or 3.
  • Stage 2B: The tumor is larger than 5 cm across and has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant sites. The cancer is grade 2.

Stage 3 soft tissue sarcoma: This stage can be defined in one of two ways:

  • The tumor is larger than 5 cm across and has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant sites. The cancer is grade 3.
  • The tumor can be any size, and it has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not distant sites. The cancer can be any grade.

Stage 4 soft tissue sarcoma: The tumor can be any size and any grade. It may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes, but it is has spread to distant sites.

Sarcoma survival rate

One way to estimate life expectancy when battling cancer is to consider the five-year relative survival rate for that type of cancer. A five-year relative survival rate shows the likelihood that a person with a specific type and stage of cancer may live for at least five years after the diagnosis, compared with people who don't have cancer. The rate includes the life expectancy of patients who are still in treatment and those who have finished treatment and have no further evidence of disease.

The American Cancer Society reports the following soft tissue sarcoma survival rates:

  • Localized soft tissue sarcoma: If the cancer has not spread outside the area where it started, the five-year relative survival rate is 81 percent.
  • Regional soft tissue sarcoma: For patients with soft tissue sarcoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes or structures, the five-year relative survival rate is 56 percent.
  • Distant soft tissue sarcoma: If the cancer has spread to distant organs or body parts (like the lungs), the five-year relative survival rate is 15 percent.

Next topic: How is soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed?

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