[Microchimerism and cancer in women]

Fetal origin microchimerism (FMc) denotes the presence and persistence of fetal origin cells in the maternal organism. In all women fetal cells are acquired during pregnancy, and in some women FMc persists lifelong. The consequences of FMc on long-term maternal health including cancer are increasingly being investigated. In this review, we summarize available literature regarding associations between FMc and maternal cancer.