As shown in Figure 6A and 6B, the mRNA and/or protein levels of ‘stemness’ associated genes, including CD133 (not preformed in shRNA-Ctr/LS174T and shRNA-Ascl2/LS174T cells), Bmi1, Oct4, Sox2, Lgr5 and C-myc were significantly reduced in tumor xenografts developed from shRNA-Ascl2/HT-29 or shRNA-Ascl2/LS174T cells compared with tumor xenografts developed from shRNA-Ctr/HT-29 or shRNA-Ctr/LS174T cells. The gene discussed is SOX2; the disease is neoplasm.