Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as smoking, and some cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do.

Doctors and researchers don't know what causes most childhood cancers.

Genetic changes. Changes in a tumor cell's chromosomes appear to be responsible for EFT, but the disease is not inherited. The genetic changes occur for no known reason. A high percentage of tumor cells have a chromosomal translocation, in which small pieces of genetic material swap places inside the tumor cell. Usually the translocation is between chromosomes 11 and 22, although it may also occur between chromosomes 21 and 22, 7 and 22, and 17 and 22. The fusion of these bits of genetic material results in the uncontrolled growth of EFT cells.

Age. About two-thirds (64%) of all people with EFT are between the ages of 10 and 20. EFT is rare in adults older than 30 and in very young children.

Gender. EFT is more common among boys than girls.

Race/Ethnicity. EFT occurs most frequently in white people and is rare in black people in the United States and Africa. These tumors have been reported in Japan but are rare in China.