Abstract CSCs have been regarded prospective therapeutic targets for cancer therapy since they were initially discovered in leukaemia in 1994. These cells have the ability to self-renew and differentiate, and they contribute to a variety of tumour malignancies, including recurrence, metastasis, heterogeneity, multidrug resistance, and radiation resistance. Several pluripotent transcription factors, including OCT4, Sox2, Nanog, KLF4, and MYC, regulate the biological activities of CSCs. Furthermore, many intracellular signalling pathways, including Wnt, NF-B (nuclear factor-B), Notch, Hedgehog, JAK-STAT (Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription), PI3K/AKT/mTOR (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin), TGF/SMAD, and PPAR (peroxisome) prolife. To specifically target CSCs, molecules, vaccines, antibodies, and CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T cell) cells have been developed, and some of these factors are already in clinical trials. This review summarises CSC characterization and identification, depicts major factors and pathways that regulate CSC development, and discusses potential CSC targeted therapy.
Keywords medulloblastoma, mouse models, stem cells, PI3K pathway.