With the realization of the powerful therapeutic effect of synergistic multimodality approaches to cancer treatment, scientists have made significant strides in the treatment of cancer. Coupling this knowledge with new discoveries in neoplastic stem cell dependency, we have yet another mechanism of combinatorial synergy that may soon be an exploitable weapon in physicians' therapeutic arsenal. Considering the profound curative possibilities that arise from these advancements, it is imperative that we explore this novel approach further. The basic scientific foundations for targeted neoplastic stem cell therapy have now been laid, and there are already several pharmacologic agents available that are capable of specifically modulating signaling within cancer stem cells (CSC), with more in development. Still, more research is needed in the basic physiologic signaling mechanisms of cancer stem cells, and better methods for the disruption of CSC signaling must be developed if we are to fully integrate the CSC hypothesis into our treatment paradigms. Notably, CSCs may not necessarily need to be destroyed to stop cancer if they can be forced to advance down their lineage en masse as they do in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. In conclusion, it is paramount that future studies focus on the development of additional modalities designed to supplement the in vivo elimination of cancer stem cells.

We invite authors to present original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts in defining the role of targeting CSCs in oncology. We are particularly interested in manuscripts that report the preclinical and clinical applications of investigational anti-CSC therapy, with emphasis on novel concepts, efficacy, toxicity, response assessment, multimodality treatment, prognostic factors, and predictive markers, but reports on multitargeted therapy that include targeting CSCs that are also welcomed. Reviews that summarize the results of latest preclinical investigations and clinical trials and their implications on treatment practice in various malignancies are welcomed.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

• Preclinical investigations on concepts of integrating novel pipeline drugs against CSCs in cancer therapy
• Clinical efficacy and toxicity of anti-CSC therapy in common cancers
• Combination of anti-CSC therapy with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy
• Clinical or biological markers as outcome predictor

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