Figure 7. A yin-yang balancing act of the AMPK/mTOR link in reprogramming to Sox2-overexpressing breast cancer stem-like cellular states. We suggest that the AMPK/mTOR signaling link in reprogramming to Sox2-overexpressing breast cancer stem-like cellular states can be viewed much like a yin-yang balancing act, based on the ancient Chinese scientific thinking concerning how things work (i.e., the “universe” is governed by the balance of yin and yang, where yin represents the negative element, while yang represents the positive element). Consistent with this concept, AMPK and mTOR appear to have opposing activation patterns during abnormal differentiation in cancer. The forced activation of AMPK in cancer stem-like cells could lead to differentiation,32,33,100 whereas an elaborate regulation of the activation status of mTOR might be required to allow defined transcription factors to reprogram differentiated cancer cells toward stemness.68 The exploitation of this AMPK/mTOR signaling link with the use of the yin-yang concept may allow for the development of novel therapeutic strategies that target CSC states.