BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation in human placenta: a hidden link with β-hCG expression.

Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) are group of pregnancy-related tumors characterized by abnormal levels of 'β-hCG' with higher incidence in South-East Asia, especially India. Our laboratory has reported that wild-type BRCA1 transcriptionally regulates β-hCG in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). These factors culminated into analysis of BRCA1 status in GTD, which would emanate into elucidation of BRCA1- β-hCG relationship and unraveling etio-pathology of GTD.