Study Reveals Insights on Sarcoma Rates in Military Versus Civilian Men

Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) have uncovered compelling insights into the incidence of soft tissue sarcomas among US active-duty servicemen. The findings reveal significant age-related differences compared to the general male population and shed light on the interplay between occupational exposures, healthcare access, and cancer risk, paving the way for targeted prevention strategies and future research.

Drawing on data from the Department of Defense’s Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR) and the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, USU researchers analyzed cancer rates across two populations. The study, “Incidence Rates of Soft Tissue Sarcoma among U.S. Military Servicemen: Comparison with the Rates in the General U.S. Population," published in Cancer, revealed that soft tissue sarcoma rates were 14% lower overall among U.S. servicemen compared to civilian males. However, notable age-specific patterns emerged:

• Among younger servicemen (ages 18–39), sarcoma rates were 22% lower than their civilian counterparts, likely due to better overall health and early detection through the military’s universal healthcare system.
• In contrast, middle-aged servicemen (ages 40–59) showed higher rates of localized tumors, potentially reflecting cumulative exposure to military-specific toxins or advantages in early diagnosis due to robust healthcare access in the Military Health System.
• White and Black servicemen had sarcoma rates 15% and 23% lower, respectively, compared to their civilian peers.

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare but often fatal cancers that develop in muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and tendons. They are more common in men than women and remain a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men under 40. While the exact causes are unclear, exposure to radiation and industrial chemicals can increase a person’s risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas.

“Our study is descriptive, hoping to provide clues for analytical studies on factors associated with the differences between the military and general populations,” said USU senior author Kangmin Zhu, MD, PhD. “Further descriptive research with more recent data containing a larger number of military patients is warranted.”