Fetal microchimerism and cancer.
The persistence of fetal stem cells with multilineage potential in women who have been pregnant, a phenomenon known as fetal microchimerism, is emerging as a potential contributing factor in certain diseases, including cancer. For example, fetal microchimerism has been implicated in autoimmune disease, wound healing, and cancer. Studies of this phenomenon may provide a novel perspective on cancer in women, including in breast, ovarian, and lung cancers.
Sawicki
Janet A
JA
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania 19096, USA. sawickij@mlhs.org
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D046528:Chimerism / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D053686:Fetal Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy