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Cancer

Long-term Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Cancer on Adolescent Health

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research from the University of Leuven in Belgium has shed light on the long-term consequences of prenatal exposure to maternal cancer on adolescent neurocognitive, cardiac, and physical health. The multicenter cohort study enrolled 166 children aged 12 and/or 15 years who were exposed to maternal cancer during pregnancy. The study used standardized assessments to evaluate the children's health and found no significant associations between neurocognitive outcomes and covariates.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found no significant associations between neurocognitive outcomes and covariates in children exposed to maternal cancer during pregnancy.
  • Of the 166 children enrolled in the study, 122 were exposed to chemotherapy, 17 to surgery alone, 14 to radiotherapy, 1 to trastuzumab, 1 to rituximab, and 21 to no treatment.
  • Cardiac function was within normal ranges, with a median ejection fraction of 56.7% (z-score: -1.6) and two cases showed mild systolic dysfunction.
  • Ongoing monitoring is recommended to understand long-term outcomes into adulthood.
  • The study included children who were exposed to various treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
  • The study used a prospective multicenter cohort design, which allows for more reliable conclusions about the long-term effects of prenatal exposure to maternal cancer.

Statistics:

  • Median ejection fraction of 56.7% (z-score: -1.6) in children exposed to maternal cancer during pregnancy.
  • Two cases (1.2%) showed mild systolic dysfunction in children exposed to maternal cancer during pregnancy.
  • 122 children (73.5%) were exposed to chemotherapy, 17 (10.2%) to surgery alone, 14 (8.4%) to radiotherapy, 1 (0.6%) to trastuzumab, 1 (0.6%) to rituximab, and 21 (12.6%) to no treatment.

Sources:

  • Long-term development of 12- and 15-year-old offspring after maternal cancer diagnosis during pregnancy: a prospective multicentre cohort study. Annals of Oncology, 2025.
  • University of Leuven (KU Leuven).
  • NewsRx. University of Leuven (KU Leuven) Reports Findings in Prematurity (Long-term development of 12- and 15-year-old offspring after maternal cancer diagnosis during pregnancy: a prospective multicentre cohort study). Pediatrics Week. June 21, 2025; p 678.

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