In a group of 353 patients with diagnoses of ALL, researchers observed that the expression of miR-124a was downregulated by hypermethylation of the promoter and histone modifications, thus inducing the upregulation of its target, CDK6, and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) and leading to the abnormal proliferation of ALL cells. This evidence concerns the gene RB1 and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.