To test this hypothesis, we determined the term-placental expression of main glucocorticoid pathway genes, i.e., corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD2), glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), as well as other key stress biomarkers (Arginine Vasopressin, AVP and O-GlcNAc transferase, OGT) and their association with maternal HCC levels, offspring gender, and birth weight. The gene discussed is AVP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.