The selected surface markers have been previously identified as stem cell markers in the kidney (i.e. CD24, CD29, CD133)15, cancer stem cell markers in other malignancies (CD24, CD29, Epcam, CD44, MET, CD90, ALDH1A1 activity)16–21, and in the kidney (CD133, CD24, CD105, CXCR4)8,9,15,22. The gene discussed is ALDH1A1; the disease is cancer.