Fetal-maternal microchimerism in normal parous females and parous female cancer patients.

Objective: The prevalence of male microchimerism (MC) in parous females, nonparous females, and parous female cancer patients was examined.

Materials And Methods: DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and male Y-chromosomal DNA was amplified using a sensitive two-stage polymerase chain reaction technique. Controls prepared by mixing human male and female cell lines demonstrated the sensitivity of the technique to be in the range of 1 male cell per 1 million female cells.