In the last few years, considerable advances have been made in the sequencing of astrocytic tumours, which led to the discovery of key genetic alterations in gliomas, including mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2), homologue of Drosophila capicua (CIC), far-upstream binding protein 1 (FUBP1), and alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked (ATRX) genes and in the TERT promoter (TERTp) region7–10. Here, ATRX is linked to central nervous system cancer.