癌症的“干细胞性”对于癌症的存在至关重要。它定义了癌细胞无限延续和分化的能力。生长肿瘤中的癌干细胞群体还有助于逃避化疗和放疗的抑制效应，此外在癌转移中也扮演着重要的角色。NF-κB和STAT-3是代表性的转录因子(TFs)，长期以来一直与癌干细胞性有关，因此成为癌症治疗的有吸引力的靶点。近年来对非编码RNA(ncRNA)的兴趣进一步揭示了TFs影响癌干细胞特性的机制。有证据表明，有直接调节TFs的ncRNAs，例如microRNAs(miRNAs)、长非编码RNA(lncRNAs)和环状RNA(circRNAs)，反之亦然。此外，TF-ncRNAs的调节通常是间接的，涉及ncRNA靶基因或个体ncRNAs吸附其他ncRNA物种。信息正在迅速发展，本综述提供了关于TF-ncRNAs相互作用对癌干细胞性和对治疗的影响的全面综述。这种知识将有助于揭示控制癌干细胞性的众多严密调控层次，提供处理过程中的新机会和目标。Copyright © 2023 The Authors。由Elsevier Ltd.出版。保留所有权利。

Cancer 'stemness' is fundamental to cancer existence. It defines the ability of cancer cells to indefinitely perpetuate as well as differentiate. Cancer stem cell populations within a growing tumor also help evade the inhibitory effects of chemo- as well as radiation-therapies, in addition to playing an important role in cancer metastases. NF-κB and STAT-3 are representative transcription factors (TFs) that have long been associated with cancer stemness, thus presenting as attractive targets for cancer therapy. The growing interest in non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the recent years has provided further insight into the mechanisms by which TFs influence cancer stem cell characteristics. There is evidence for a direct regulation of TFs by ncRNAs, such as, microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as well as circular RNAs (circRNAs), and vice versa. Additionally, the TF-ncRNAs regulations are often indirect, involving ncRNA-target genes or the sponging of other ncRNA species by individual ncRNAs. The information is rapidly evolving and this review provides a comprehensive review of TF-ncRNAs interactions with implications on cancer stemness and in response to therapies. Such knowledge will help uncover the many levels of tight regulations that control cancer stemness, providing novel opportunities and targets for therapy in the process.Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.