Targeting Signaling Pathways in Cancer Stem Cells for Cancer Treatment

Figure 2

Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch canonical signaling pathways. (a) In the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, when Wnt ligand binds to FZD and LRP receptors, the β-catenin destruction complex (Axin, GSK3, APC, and CK1) is decomposed, and active β-catenin accumulates and translocates to the nucleus for target gene transcription. (b) In the canonical Hedgehog pathway, when ligand binds to PTCH, the inhibitory effect of PTCH to SMO is removed. Subsequently GLI is activated and translocates into nucleus for target gene transcription. (c) In the canonical Notch pathway, delta-like or Jagged ligand binds to Notch receptor and a series of extracellular and intracellular cleavages occur, and NICD translocates to the nucleus to regulate target gene transcription. For the detailed pathway information, please refer to the text.