Maternal immune responses to oncofetal antigens

The maternal host responds immunologically to antigens of the fetus. While the immune responses to paternally derived alloantigens and to placental antigens have been intensively studied, the immune responses to oncofetal antigens have been relatively unexplored. Oncofetal antigens are present on fetal and malignant tissues but absent from normal adult somatic tissues. These antigens elicit both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in the parous female. Limited data suggest that these immune responses may influence reproductive processes. More investigation in this area is desirable.