Anoikis resistant placental stem cells ( arPSCs) with increased survival in low-attachment environments, and thus can advantageously be used, e.g., in therapies based on their ability to persist for longer durations of time in an unattached state. A method of modifying placental stem cells to make them anoikis resistant, comprising contacting the placental stem cells with an effective amount of modulatory RNA molecules, such that one or more genes associated with anoikis of the placental stem cells is inhibited. Further discloses are genes that are associated with anoikis for modulation.
