Considering that the presence of mesenchymal GSCs is closely related to the recurrence of glioma after chemo- and radiotherapy, the results of the present study suggest that the inhibition of BMI1 or the depletion of ZDHHC18 might serve as an effective strategy for treatment of the stress microenvironment related to the mesenchymal subtype of GBM. This evidence concerns the gene ZDHHC18 and central nervous system cancer.