癌干细胞（CSCs）是一小部分具有自我更新和分化能力的肿瘤细胞。CSCs目前被认为是诱导肿瘤异质性、导致肿瘤起始、转移和最终复发的驱动力。需要注意的是，由于具有高水平的抗氧化系统和药物外流转运蛋白，CSCs天然具有对环境压力、化疗和放疗的抵抗能力。在这种情况下，针对CSC特定途径的治疗策略为治疗癌症提供了有希望的方法。NRF2（核因子类似红细胞2；NFE2L2）是一个主要的转录因子，调节参与清除反应性氧化物/电子的基因阵列。越来越多的证据表明，多种癌症中持续的NRF2活化支持肿瘤生长、恶性程度和治疗抵抗力。在此，我们描述了CSC的核心特性，重点关注治疗抵抗力，并回顾了证明NRF2信号在赋予CSC独特特性及相关信号通路中的作用的证据。

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of tumor cells characterized by self-renewal and differentiation capacity. CSCs are currently postulated as the driving force that induces intra-tumor heterogeneity leading to tumor initiation, metastasis, and eventually tumor relapse. Notably, CSCs are inherently resistant to environmental stress, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy due to high levels of antioxidant systems and drug efflux transporters. In this context, a therapeutic strategy targeting the CSC-specific pathway holds a promising cure for cancer. NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2; NFE2L2) is a master transcription factor that regulates an array of genes involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species/electrophiles. Accumulating evidence suggests that persistent NRF2 activation, observed in multiple types of cancer, supports tumor growth, aggressive malignancy, and therapy resistance. Herein, we describe the core properties of CSCs, focusing on treatment resistance, and review the evidence that demonstrates the roles of NRF2 signaling in conferring unique properties of CSCs and the associated signaling pathways.