Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Despite various treatments available, it remains one of the most challenging diseases to defeat.

Cancer cells have an uncanny ability to evade the body’s immune system, invade healthy tissues, and spread throughout the body. One of the reasons behind this superpower of cancer cells is Maternal Cells.

What are Maternal Cells?

Maternal cells, also referred to as fetal microchimeric cells (FMCs), are cells that pass from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy. These cells are typically found in small amounts in the offspring’s tissues and organs, and vice versa.

In other words, the mother carries some cells of her children in her body, and the children carry some of their mother’s cells in theirs.

According to a study published in the journal Oncogenesis, maternal cells have been linked to the development and progression of cancer.

The study’s findings suggest that the same genetic differences that allow maternal cells to cross the placenta and enter the fetus can also help cancerous cells invade healthy tissues and spread throughout the body.

How do Maternal Cells contribute to cancer?

The study revealed that maternal cells carry a high amount of oncogenes, which are genes that have the potential to cause cancer. Oncogenes can induce cell proliferation and resistance to cell death, further increasing the risk of developing cancer.

Thus, when these cells enter the recipient’s body, they can cause genetic modifications that promote the growth and spread of cancerous cells.

Moreover, Maternal cells are capable of acting as immune suppressants. When the mother’s immune cells migrate to the developing fetus, they suppress the immune response in the fetal tissues to avoid attacking them.

These same immune suppressant properties of maternal cells can be used by cancer cells to evade the body’s immune system, allowing them to proliferate and invade surrounding tissues.

Research on Maternal Cells and Cancer

Various research studies have been conducted to investigate the role of maternal cells in the development and progression of cancer.

One such study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, revealed that women who had previously given birth had a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to women who had never given birth. The study suggested that the presence of maternal cells in the ovaries might have contributed to the development of ovarian cancer.

Another study published in the Journal of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment revealed a higher prevalence of maternal cells in the breast tissue of women with breast cancer as compared to healthy women.

The study suggested that maternal cells may be a contributing factor in the development of breast cancer.

Despite the growing body of research linking maternal cells with cancer, there is still much to be learned about the exact mechanisms through which these cells contribute to cancer development and progression.

Conclusion

The study of maternal cells and cancer is a rapidly evolving field, and researchers are working to uncover the precise mechanisms through which these cells contribute to cancer development and progression.

The findings of these studies hold promise for the development of new treatments for cancer that can exploit the vulnerabilities of maternal cells and other cancer-promoting factors. Through innovative research, we can continue to advance our understanding of cancer and ultimately find more effective ways to prevent and treat this devastating disease.