We describe here hierarchical positioning of two homeobox families, the Dlx and Olig families, in the homeobox activation cascade resulting in transformation like that which occurs following Xist activation resulting from p53 inactivation. We demonstrate that Dlx1 and Dlx2, as well as Olig1 and Olig2 can activate Xist for transformation just as Xist activation preceding transformation can result in Dlx1/2 and Olig1/2 induction. The data further position Dlx1/2 and Olig1/2 proximal to initiation of transformation induction, adjacent to, resulting from and generally following Xist non-coding RNA activation de novo or as a result of inactivation of p53 or Rb1.