NOTCH1 knockdown clones showed significant reduction in oralsphere formation ability with concomitant decrease in ALDH positive cells in NT8e and AW13516 cells as compared to scrambled (SCR) cells (Figure 3D, 3E), highlighting their dependency on NOTCH1 expression with concomitant decrease in ALDH positive population of cells, thus regulating and promoting the survival of HNSCC CSCs. The gene discussed is NOTCH1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.