Residual Fetal Cells in Women May Provide Protection Against Breast Cancer, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Study

SEATTLE – Fetal cells that persist in a woman’s body long after pregnancy – a common occurrence known in scientific circles as fetal microchimerism – in some cases may reduce the woman’s risk of breast cancer, according to researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The findings, published in the Oct. 1 issue of Cancer Research, add to the Jekyll and Hyde characteristics of fetal microchimerism, or FMc, which has been found to be both detrimental and beneficial to women’s health.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC