Mechanistic Insights into the Hypermethylation of BRCA1 Evinces a Novel Pathway to Breast Tumorigenesis.

For the first time, this study elucidates the molecular signaling behind breast tumorigenesis involving BRCA1 hypermethylation. Like BRCA1 mutation screening, our findings open up an outstanding opportunity for screening sporadic breast cancers in females using the combination of NBR2, β-hCG, and BRCA1 hypermethylation as biomarkers from blood. Moreover, as therapeutic intervention, this study also provides scope for the use of BRCA1 hypermethylation reversing drugs like methotrexate, drugs like biguanides that show better action under NBR2 depleted conditions and development of β-hCG inhibitors for a better prognosis.