Hence, human breast cancer MCF-derived cells, which exhibit a reduced ARL2 (ADP ribosylation factor like 2) expression associated with enhanced in vivo and in vitro tumor aggressivity, display increased 2′Ome levels at six out of eleven sites analyzed in the 18S and 28S rRNAs compared to wild-type cells. The gene discussed is ARL2; the disease is breast carcinoma.