The fetal antigen hypothesis: cancers and beyond.
Twenty years ago the fetal antigen hypothesis was proposed as a potential mechanism by which women are naturally immunized against cancer antigens by antigens from their fetus. Evidence from recent clinical studies shows that a high percentage of parous woman, but not nulliparous women, show evidence of immunization to antigens found on breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer cells. I suggest that this maternal immunization also affects the fetus, causing early immune rejection of fertilized ova that express cancer-related genotypes. Additional cancers, and perhaps even other types of genetic diseases, may be involved in this mechanism.
Janerich
D T
DT
Foundation for Blood Research, Scarborough, Maine, USA.
D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens