en Molecular & Cellular Immunology Molecular & Cellular Immunology Review Review <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><span style="line-height:107%">Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cells within tumors that exhibit stem cell-like characteristics, including the ability to self-renew and differentiate. CSCs are the cause of carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis. The expression of cell surface markers, which varies linked to the kind of tumor, is utilized to recognize CSCs. An essential part of tumor invasion and metastasis is played by CSCs. Numerous investigations have been carried out to find distinguished markers and different phenotypes of CSCs, which are especially crucial for identifying and separating this subset of cells. It was discovered that the regulation of CSCs involves a multitude of signaling pathways. These cells are determined by their ability to self-renewal pathways such as Wnt/&beta;-catenin, JAK/STAT3, PTEN/PI3-K/Akt, and Hedgehog, their surface biomarkers, and their resistance to many drugs. Aberrant activation of these signaling pathways is associated with cell growth. Thus, focusing on CSCs is seen to be a viable anti-cancer treatment approach. It is encouraging that CSCs&#39; self-renewal pathways present a viable target for changing their survival tactics and limiting their capacity to proliferate tumors. This study highlights the characterization and investigation of CSC self-renewal pathways, also discusses potential targeted therapy for CSC, and gives a summary of the significant factors and pathways that adjust CSC formation.</span></span></span></p> <br> <br> &nbsp; Cancer Stem cells, Self-renewal, Tumor recurrence, Molecular Signaling, targeted therapy. 753 776 http://ijmcmed.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7992-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Seyed Nasser Hoseinian HoseiniNS4001@mums.ac.ir 100319475328460034496 100319475328460034496 No Department of Hematology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Mohammad Saeedi msan70@yahoo.com 100319475328460034497 100319475328460034497 Yes Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Mohammad Erfan Saravani Erfan0prime@gmail.com 100319475328460034498 100319475328460034498 No Department of Laboratory Sciences, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran. Sepideh Zenoozi Sznmx@missouri.edu 100319475328460034499 100319475328460034499 No Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA. Fatemeh Mehranfar fatemehmehr3000@gmail.com 100319475328460034500 100319475328460034500 No Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Amin Pouyan amin.pouyan@gmail.com 100319475328460034501 100319475328460034501 No Department of Laboratory Science, Faculty of medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.