CD44 and neoplasm: Beyond these established markers, several other key molecules have emerged as critical regulators of CCSC properties.EPHB2 suppresses invasion by limiting excessive stem cell proliferation; OCT4-high cells possess self-renewal capability, overexpress CD44/CD133, and correlate with poor clinical prognosis; knockdown of TRIB3 significantly reduces tumor burden in mouse colons; REC8 enhances stemness and accelerates metastasis via the BTK/Akt/β-catenin axis; ZNF217 directly activates Notch1 signaling, amplifying Notch pathway output to maintain the CCSC population.