Explaining the different TIM3 expression patterns in normal T cells (high TIM3 & high TOX and TOX2) and some T-ALL cells (low TIM3 & high TOX and TOX2), we found that a different TOX2 cellular location was linked to different TIM3 expression and nuclear TOX2 binding with TOX, resulting in suppression of HAVCR2 transcriptional activity in T-ALL cells, such as Jurkat and MOLT3 cells. Here, TOX is linked to acute lymphoblastic leukemia.