MicroRNAs in cancer stem cells: new regulators of stemness

In the past decade, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been isolated, characterized, and studied in a variety of cancers and they are believed to be responsible for tumor initiation and progression. Like normal stem cells, these cells retain self-renewal property and therefore, can differentiate into multiple tumor types. Despite this clinical importance, how CSCs are regulated and their exact pathological role are yet to be elucidated. Recent studies have shed light on the potential role of miRNAs in regulating CSCs. In this review, we summarize the current findings of miRNAs in the regulation of CSCs through different self-renewal pathways and the potential therapeutic implications of miRNAs in clinical settings by targeting CSCs.