In an oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) organoid model, Zhao et al. demonstrated that co-culturing cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with CD44-expressing cancer stem cells (hereafter referred to as CD44+ cells) resulted in the formation of OSCC organoids (Zhao et al., 2021). The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.