Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to conventional therapies, leading to disease relapse and poor patient outcomes. Combining conventional cancer treatments—such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy—with CSC-targeting strategies has emerged as a promising approach to overcoming therapeutic resistance and achieving long-term tumor control. This approach involves the integration of CSC-specific inhibitors, immune-based therapies, and nanotechnology-driven drug delivery systems to selectively eliminate CSCs while enhancing the efficacy of standard treatments. By disrupting CSCassociated signaling pathways and tumor microenvironment interactions, combination therapies hold the potential to improve treatment responses and reduce recurrence rates. This review explores recent advancements in CSC-targeted combination strategies, their therapeutic potential, existing challenges, and future directions in precision oncology.