Table 1 Identification of cancer stem cells in human cancer

Isolation markers

CD133

A common CSC marker in various cancers.

CD133⁺Nestin⁺ is better for CSCs in glioma.^15,16

CD133⁺CD44⁺ is better for CSCs in HCC19 and colon tumor.¹⁸

CD133⁺ALDH^+19,20/ CD133⁺L1CAM⁺²¹ is better for CSCs in OC.

CD44

A common CSC marker in various cancers.

CD44⁺CD133⁺²⁸/CD44⁺EpCAM⁺²³/CD44⁺ALDH^+19,29 is better for CSCs in CRC.

CD44⁺c-Met⁺³⁰ is better for CSCs in pancreatic cancer;

CD44⁺ALDH⁺³²/ CD44v8-10³⁴ is better for CSCs in GC.

EpCAM

A common CSC marker in various cancers.

EpCAM⁺CD44⁺ CD166⁺²³ is better for CSCs in CRC.

EpCAM⁺ CD133⁺⁹ is better for CSCs in HCC

ALDH

An enzyme that is identified as a common CSC marker in various cancers.

ALDH^high CD44⁺CD24^-/ALDH^high CD133⁺CD44⁺⁴¹ is better for CSCs in breast cancer.

ALDH⁺CD133⁺⁴² is better for CSCs in HCC.

CD90

A common CSC marker in various cancers.

CD90⁺CD44⁺⁴⁹ is better for CSCs in lung cancer cell.

Intracellular markers

Oct4

Oct4 is a homeodomain transcription factor by binding to octamers,

and regulates the expression of many genes.⁵²

Nanog

Nanog is a homeobox transcription factor,

And plays a crucial role in the second embryonic cell-fate specification.⁶²

Sox2

Sox2 has an important function in the early

development and maintenance of undifferentiated ESCs.

SP fraction

Hoechst 33342-

negative population

SP cells can be separated by fluorescence screening after the outflow of Hoechst 33342.

And SP cells have high homology, self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation potential.⁷⁴

Noncoding RNAs

Circ008913

Regulate CSC phenotype in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.⁹¹

CirGprc5a

Regulate CSC in bladder tumor.⁹²

Circ001680

Promote CSC in CRC and induce irinotecan resistance.⁹³

CircLgr4

Regulate CSC in CRC.⁹⁴

LncTCF7

Promote CSC by Wnt signaling pathway.⁹⁵

Lnc-β-Catm

Promote CSC together with Wnt.⁹⁶

H19

Regulate CSC in breast cancer⁹⁷ and HCC.⁹⁸