There are few tumor cell subpopulations with stem cell characteristics in tumor tissue

defined as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs)

which can reconstruct neoplasms with malignant biological behaviors such as invasiveness via self-renewal and unlimited generation. The microenvironment that CSCs depend on consists of various cellular components and corresponding medium components. Among these factors existing at a variety of levels and forms

cytokine networks and numerous signal pathways play an important role in signaling transduction. These factors promote or maintain cancer cell stemness

and participate in cancer recurrence

metastasis

and resistance. This review aims to summarize the recent molecular data concerning the multilayered relationship between CSCs and CSC-favorable microenvironments. We also discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting this synergistic interplay

hoping to give an insight into targeting cancer cell stemness for tumor therapy and prognosis.