**6. Conclusion**

The discovery of LSCs has resulted in a paradigm shift in our understanding of leukemia biology and the way we treat AML. LSCs play a significant part in the origin, drug resistance and relapse of leukemia. In recent years, researchers have shed light on this elusive subpopulation of cells by uncovering the cellular pathways that drive the action of LSCs. Pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and GPCR signaling are not only vital in our understanding of LSC biology but are also critical in providing avenues for the development of effective therapeutics. Currently there are some promising agents in clinical and pre-clinical trials. In the future these agents may constitute combination therapies personalized to a patient's genetic profile. As our knowledge of the precise mechanisms behind LSCs improves, the future of research lies in developing novel targeted therapies that obsolete the single use of chemotherapy in AML.
