Compared with that in monolayer or ALDH-CD44- cancer cells, significantly higher PFKFB3 mRNA expression was clearly detected in tumorspheres derived from ascites and ascites-derived cell lines (SKOV3 and OVCAR3) or ALDH+CD44+ cells sorted from SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells (Figure 3A). The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is cancer.