The promoter activity of L1PA2-SYT1 in breast cancer cell lines coincided with its increased DNAse sensitivity and decreased DNA methylation, suggesting the L1PA2-SYT1 element can promote expression of the proto-oncogene SYT1. It remains unknown whether this promoter activity is tumour-specific, and whether it contributes to SYT1 expression under normal physiological conditions. The gene discussed is SYT1; the disease is breast carcinoma.