Collectively, our study reveals a novel mechanism, in which EGFR induces enrichment of cervical CSCs via directly upregulating IL-6 transcription in a MUC1-dependent manner (Fig. 4g), implicating erlotinib treatment as a promising approach to overcome paclitaxel-resistant CSCs in MUC1-positive cervical cancer. The gene discussed is MUC1; the disease is cervical carcinoma.