In cervical cancer, CSC population was found in both human cell lines and primary tumour tissue, and demonstrated a high degree of radioresistance.29,30 Consequently, specific detection and targeting of CSCs could be a critical approach in therapy against cervical cancer.30,31 Currently, multiple putative stem cell markers, such as ALDH1, CD44, cytokeratin 17 (CK17), C-MYC, Nanog, OCT3/4, Sox2 and STAT3, are considered as candidates for the induction of cervical carcinogenesis.32 The gene discussed is KRT17; the disease is cervical carcinoma.