Our findings indicate the significance of high c-MYC, low MYCBP2 and low Ikaros expression in ALL patients, also demonstrate c-MYC and MYCBP2 is the direct target of Ikaros and reveal a model for the oncogenic effect of an Ikaros/MYCBP2/c-MYC axis in adult ALL. This evidence concerns the gene MYC and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.