The radioresistance of glioma is an important cause of treatment failure and tumor aggressiveness. In the present study, under performed with linear accelerator, the effects of 0.3 and 3.0 Gy low‑dose radiation (LDR) on the proliferation and migration of C6 glioma stem cells were examined by flow cytometric analysis, immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis. It was found that low‑dose ionizing radiation (0.3 Gy) stimulated the proliferation and migration of these cells, while 3.0 Gy ionizing radiation inhibited the proliferation of C6 glioma stem cells, which was mediated through enhanced Wnt/β‑catenin signaling, which is associated with glioma tumor aggressiveness. LDR treatment increased the expression of the DNA damage marker γ‑HAX but promoted cell survival with a significant reduction in apoptotic and necrotic cells. When LDR cells were also treated with an inhibitor of Wnt receptor 1 (IWR1), cell proliferation and migration were significantly reduced. IWR1 treatment significantly inhibited Wnt1, Wnt3a and β‑catenin protein expression. Collectively, the current results demonstrated that IWR1 treatment effectively radio‑sensitizes glioma stem cells and helps to overcome the survival advantages promoted by LDR, which has significant implications for targeted treatment in radioresistant gliomas.