Low BRCA1 expression and/or BRCA1 promoter methylation has been associated with basal-like sporadic breast cancers in some reports (Turner et al., 2007, Joosse et al., 2011, Lee et al., 2010, Rakha et al., 2008b), but not others (Matros et al., 2005, Richardson et al., 2006). The gene discussed is BRCA1; the disease is breast cancer.