MTOR and neoplasm: Additionally, by inhibiting the expression of CD133, it disturbs key downstream signaling pathways, such as wingless/integrated (Wnt)/beta-catenin signaling pathway, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascade, and CD133/programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1) signaling axis, thereby impairing stemness properties and inhibiting tumor progression (Mak et al., 2012; Liang et al., 2021; Xu et al., 2023; Wang et al., 2025).