However, CD44/CD24 ratio seemed to be a more effective way to evaluate the stem characteristics of cancer cells compared to CD44+/CD24−, as for the non CD44+/CD24− cell lines (MDA-MB-468, CD44+/CD24+; MCF-7 and SK-BR-3, CD44−/CD24+, Fig. 1A–C), MDA-MB-468 that has higher CD44/CD24 ratio exhibited much stronger proliferative and tumorigenic capacities than MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 that have lower CD44/CD24 ratio (Fig. 2). The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is cancer.