MTOR and neoplasm: CSCs rely on key developmental signaling pathways, including the Notch, Hedgehog, Wnt, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, to sustain their self-renewal, survival, and differentiation capacity.167 These pathways, which are normally active in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis, are frequently dysregulated in CSCs, thereby promoting tumor progression and therapy resistance.