CD44 and cancer: Among the various markers tested, Kryczek et al. explored putative SC markers, including CD133, CD117, CD44, ABCG2, epithelial-specific antigen (ESA), and ALDH, in primary OC samples and found that (i) these markers exhibited highly heterogeneous expressions, and (ii) only CD133 and ALDH were enriched in cancer-initiating cells, as verified both in vitro by a tumor sphere assay and in vivo inoculation into NOD/SCID mice [29].