Stem cell therapy: A paradigm shift in breast cancer treatment

Figure 2 Dysregulated pathways operative in breast cancer stem cells. A number of pathways have been shown to be upregulated in breast cancer stem cells, which are due to mutations, resulting in amplification or loss of key effector genes. The gene products of the aberrant pathways impart a growth and survival advantage and allow these cells to metastasize and become resistant to conventional therapy. BCSC: Breast cancer stem cell; NF-κB: Nuclear factor kappa beta; PI3K: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; ER: Estrogen receptor; EMT: Epithelial mesenchymal transitions; HER2: Epidermal growth factor receptor 2; ALDH1: Aldehyde dehydrogenase; Hh: Hedgehog.