The CIRM funding has been essential for the development of an anti-cancer drug inhibiting colorectal cancer stem cells.  New data from the field and from our laboratory also indicate that our molecules can activate anti-tumor immunity, which is expected to activate the removal of cancer stem cells by immune cells also, in addition to direct suppression of cancer stem cells.  Future studies will evaluate the role of activated anti-tumor iuumnity in removing colorectal cancer stem cells, and will also continue to develop the project into clinical trials.