| Cancer stem cells (CSC) are rare immortal cells within a tumor that are able to initiate
tumor progression, development, and resistance. Advances studies show that, like
normal stem cells, CSCs can be both self‐renewed and given rise to many cell types,
therefore form tumors. A number of cell surface markers, such as CD44, CD24, and
CD133 are frequently used to identify CSCs. CD133, a transmembrane glycoprotein,
either alone or in collaboration with other markers, has been mainly considered to
identify CSCs from different solid tumors. However, the exactness of CD133 as a
cancer stem cell biomarker has not been approved yet. The clinical importance of
CD133 is as a CSC marker in many cancers. Also, it contributes to shorter survival,
tumor progression, and tumor recurrence. The expression of CD133 is controlled by
many extracellular or intracellular factors, such as tumor microenvironment,
epigenetic factors, signaling pathways, and miRNAs. In this study, it was attempted
to determine: 1) CD133 function; 2) the role of CD133 in cancer; 3) CD133
regulation; 4) the therapeutic role of CD133 in cancers. |