No Adverse Effects in Offspring Exposed to Maternal Cancer During Pregnancy

The potential effects of maternal cancer and cancer therapies during pregnancy on future development outcomes of the fetus remains a concern. To examine this issue, researchers in Europe conducted a prospective case-control study comparing general health, postnatal cognition, and cardiac function in early childhood between 129 offspring of mothers diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy and a matched control group. Ninety-six mothers received chemotherapy alone or in combination with other treatments, 11 received radiotherapy alone or with other treatments, 13 underwent surgery alone, 2 were treated with other drugs, and 14 received no treatment. The median gestational age at maternal cancer diagnosis was 17.7 weeks. Results were as follows:…