In the present study, we found that increased CD44+/CD24− and ALDH1+ tumour cell populations in post-chemotherapy specimen were prognostic factors for DFS, despite the fact that the size of the CD44+/CD24− or ALDH1+ tumour cell populations in pre-chemotherapy biopsy were not related to patients’ survival. This evidence concerns the gene ALDH1A1 and neoplasm.