On this page, we have information about how alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is diagnosed, treated, and what happens if it comes back.
What is alveolar soft part sarcoma?
ASPS is a very rare type of soft tissue sarcoma. It can happen anywhere in the body within the soft tissue, but often happens in the arms and legs. There are around 6 cases of ASPS diagnosed every year in England.
ASPS is thought to be caused when certain chromosomes break apart and are put back together in the wrong way. Chromosomes are the parts in cells that contain DNA. DNA is the instruction manual for how your body works.
Researchers are still trying to find out why this chromosome change happens and if it does cause ASPS.
Symptoms of alveolar soft part sarcoma
The symptoms of ASPS depend on the size and location of the tumour.
ASPS is often found in the arms or legs but can be found anywhere. You might have a lump that grows slowly, is soft, and painless.
Sometimes ASPS is not found until it spreads to another part of the body. This is usually the lungs or brain.
Diagnosing alveolar soft part sarcoma
A specialist doctor will diagnose ASPS through a series of tests. These may include:
- a physical examination – looking at and feeling a lump
- a scan – taking pictures of the inside of the body using scans such as CT or MRI
- a biopsy – taking and testing a sample of the tumour. You’ll be offered a local anaesthetic so that the area is numb. A specialist will assess if the biopsy looks like ASPS and whether it has the chromosome error.
Find out more about the different types of scans and tests.
Treating alveolar soft part sarcoma
Surgery for ASPS
The first treatment method for ASPS is surgery. The surgeon will remove the tumour and will aim to take out an area of normal tissue too – this is known as taking a margin. This is to make sure that all the cancer is removed.
ASPS mostly affects the arms and legs, and surgeons will perform limb-sparing surgery so that the limb can continue to work well.
In very rare cases, if the cancer has spread throughout the limb, then the surgeons may have to perform a partial or full amputation.
We have more information about the different types of surgery you might have.
Radiotherapy for ASPS
This treatment uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. It can be used either before or after surgery.
When used before surgery, radiotherapy aims to make the tumour smaller so that it can be removed more easily.
When used after surgery, radiotherapy aims to kill off any remaining cancer cells that have not been removed during surgery.
Chemotherapy for ASPS
This treatment uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. However, chemotherapy is not currently recommended for ASPS. This is because research has found that chemotherapy is not effective for treating ASPS.
Targeted therapies for ASPS
Because chemotherapy does not currently work for ASPS, researchers are trying to find better treatments.
Researchers have found that some targeted therapies and immunotherapies worked well in clinical trials of ASPS. More research is needed before these treatments are approved.
- Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets specific characteristics within cancer cells to stop them from growing and spreading.
- Immunotherapy is a treatment that helps the person’s own immune system to fight and kill cancer cells.
Your doctor or nurse can give you information about any opportunities to take part in a clinical trial with targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
Clinical trials
Visit our Clinical Trials Hub for all UK-based sarcoma clinical trials that are currently recruiting.
After treatment
After treatment, you will have regular follow-up appointments for several years.
Follow-up appointments
You should receive a follow-up schedule from your sarcoma clinical nurse specialist. The follow-ups will usually include:
- a chance to discuss symptoms
- an examination to look for any signs of ASPS returning, such as a CT or MRI scan
- a chest X-ray to rule out secondary cancer in the lungs.
Recurrence
ASPS can reappear in the same area after the treatment of a previous tumour. This is called a local recurrence
A recurrence of ASPS can also happen in other parts of the body. This is called metastasis or secondary cancer.
Some people are diagnosed with sarcoma because their metastases have been discovered before their primary ASPS tumour. In ASPS, secondary cancers may appear in the lungs, which is why you will have a chest X-ray at follow-up appointments.
Secondary cancer may also appear in the bone or brain. Treatment for secondary cancer may involve surgery, radiotherapy or other therapy. Your treatment will be planned just for you.
If the cancer does reappear, it is important to get treated as quickly as possible. It is useful to check for recurrences yourself through self-examination. Your doctor or sarcoma clinical nurse specialist can tell you what to look for.
If you are worried about your cancer returning, contact your doctor or nurse. They may decide to bring forward the date of your follow-up appointment to investigate your concerns.
Living with alveolar soft part sarcoma
Living with alveolar soft part sarcoma can be hard. We have support to help you with your mental health, physical health, and we also have financial support. No matter what you’re worried about, we’re here to support you.
If you have any more questions about alveolar soft part sarcoma, or if you need to talk to someone, our Support Line team are here for you.
More support
Call the Support Line
The Sarcoma UK Support Line is here for every person affected by sarcoma. Get in touch for friendly, expert, confidential and free advice on anything to do with sarcoma.
Join a support group
There are a number of sarcoma support groups across the UK. We have more information about support groups available online and in your local area.
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Last reviewed January 2026 | Next review due January 2029
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