CD44 and neoplasm: FTO knockdown cells displayed enhanced aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, a hallmark of CSC32 (Fig. 1e), and increased expression of CD44 and CD44v6 (Fig. 1e), membrane receptors associated with tumor progression33 and indispensable for CSC tumor initiation, chemoresistance, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition.