Here, the fact that in prostate cancer cell surface stem cell markers such as CD44, α2β1 integrin, CD133, CD49f (α6 integrin) are all decorated with TF-Ag, which is covalently masked (either sialylated or further glycosylated) on normal cells, provides a unique opportunity to discriminate between these cell surface markers expressed on cancer stem-like cells and their normal counterparts and target prostate cancer stem cells via the TF-Ag. The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is cancer.