Abstract: A small fraction of tumor stem cells exist in glioma and play a key role in the tumorigenesis and propagation of glioma. They have a close relationship with their niche that offers structural and functional support. In glioma niche, vascular endothelial cells can provide Notch ligands for cancer stem cells to activate Notch pathway and contact with other signaling pathways, maintaining the tumor stem cell self-renewal and increasing resistance of brain tumor stem cells to radiotherapy. Therefore, Notch signaling pathway is considered to be a new therapeutic target of glioma.

Key words: Tumor stem cells, Receptors, Notch, Endothelial cells