Figure 2.

An overview of the pathways that mediate quiescence in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). Mitochondria play a significant role in critical cellular processes such as cell cycle control, cell metabolism, regulation of calcium homeostasis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Like most other types of cancer stem cells, GSCs utilize mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to keep up their increased proliferation, resistance, and stemness. Mitochondrial dysfunction enhances tumorigenesis through different pathways such as loss of cell cycle control, intracellular calcium dyshomeostasis, increased transition of GSCs into the quiescent state, and decreased apoptosis.