Further, we utilized qRT-PCR to determine the mRNA expression levels of tumor stem cell markers (CD133, SOX2 and OCT4) in CRC cells and found that their levels were elevated in the presence of SIRT1 restoration and decreased in the presence of FOXQ1 knockdown alone, which could be reversed by the combination of FOXQ1 knockdown and SIRT1 overexpression (Fig. 6C). The gene discussed is SOX2; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.