Notably, loss of CD09 diminishes the expression of markers of pluripotency/cancer cell stemness (SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG, and CD44) (Figure 3) and self-renewal/tumorigenic potential (spheroid formation) in vitro in SCC cells (A431, FaDu), demonstrating that CD109 is required for the maintenance of the cancer stem cell population in SCC. This evidence concerns the gene NANOG and cancer.