CD44 and cancer: These studies found that miR-708-5p directly targeted CD44 in prostate cancer; that the reduced expression level of miR-708-5p resulted in the increased expression level of CD44 and AKT2, resulting in the initiation, development, and progression of prostate cancer [33]; and that deletion or decrease in CD44 inhibited cancer stem cell properties, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis [34].