Significant differences (|log2 fold change| > 1, q value < 0.1) in mRNA abundance for eight metabolic genes (with sparse overlap between five cancer types) were observed, demonstrating limited dependence on the mutational status of previously reported cancer drivers (TP53, ATRX, IDH1, NFE2L2, BAP1, USP9X and KEAP1) (Additional file 1 and Additional file 2: Table S12). This evidence concerns the gene ATRX and cancer.