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Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis in Pregnancy and Cancer

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Cancer and Pregnancy

Abstract

The placenta is often compared to a tumour in terms of its rapid growth over a short period of time and its ability to evade maternal immune rejection. In the placenta the processes that regulate cellular proliferation, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are tightly regulated so that growth and differentiation occur at the right gestational times to the benefit of the pregnancy. In tumour growth, apoptosis is described as being disregulated so that a high proliferative rate is maintained. Since the placenta is a controlled tumour, the basic mechanisms which regulate the growth of both are believed to be similar. It follows therefore that studies of placental growth may enhance our understanding of tumour development and vice versa. The objective of this review is to investigate the extent of this commonality of mechanisms in terms of the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.

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Authors
  1. Richard G. Lea
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Society for the Investigation of Early Pregnancy, 1697 Lark Lane, Cherry Hill, 08003-3157, NJ, USA

    Eytan R. Barnea MD, FACOG

  2. Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, University College London Medical School, 86–96 Chenies Mews, WC1E 6HX, London, UK

    Eric Jauniaux MD, PhD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, 06510, New Haven, CT, USA

    Peter E. Schwartz MD, FACOG

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Lea, R.G. (2001). Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis in Pregnancy and Cancer. In: Barnea, E.R., Jauniaux, E., Schwartz, P.E. (eds) Cancer and Pregnancy. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0707-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0707-1_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1184-9

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