Genome-wide functions of PML–RARα in acute promyelocytic leukaemia

PML—RAR (retinoic acid receptor)α is the hallmark protein of acute promyelocytic leukaemia, a highly malignant subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia that accounts for approximately 10% of all AML cases. Recently, several studies have been set out to obtain a comprehensive genome-wide view of the molecular actions of this chimeric protein. In this review, we highlight the new insights that arose from these studies, in particular focussing on newly identified PML–RARα target genes, its interplay with RXR and deregulation of epigenetic modifications.