Mother can pass on cancer in womb

Alexa Williams
10/15/09
6:45pm

Mother can pass on cancer in womb

Until this research, it was believed that the unborn child’s immune system would block cancer cells from the mother. However, studies have now shown the children researched with leukemia have cancer cells that they only could have received from their mother. The 17 known cases of mother and child sharing the same cancer are usually leukemia or melanoma. The researchers also proved how the cancer cells defeated the child’s immune system. These cells were missing parts that showed their molecular identity, and thus the child’s immune system was unable to recognize them as foreign and get rid of them. While this is possible, it is only in extremely rare cases that a mother can pass her cancer cells to her unborn child.


I am extremely glad that this is such an extremely rare occurrence, especially with the incredible number of people who have cancer in our society. If cancer were hereditary the way some other things are, we would have a much more extreme problem. However, it is still unbelievable that a child could receive these cells in the womb after the cells get through the placenta. I had never heard of any possibility of this, but apparently researchers have been wondering if it was feasible for quite awhile now. Luckily there are only 17 known cases and that number hopefully will not grow much larger.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8298947.stm