Translating basic research in cancer patient care

With the advent of molecular targeted therapies and the development of high-throughput biotechnologies, it has become evident that progress in cancer research is largely due to the creation of multidisciplinary teams able to plan clinical trials supported by appropriate molecular hypoth- eses. These efforts have culminated in the identi cation and validation of biomarkers predictive of response, as well as in the generation of more accurate prognostic tools. The identi cation of cancer stem cells has provided further insights into mechanisms of cancer, and many studies have tried to translate this biological notion into prognostic and predictive information. In this regard, new agents targeting key stemness-related pathways have entered the clinical development, and prelimi- nary data suggested an encouraging antitumor activity.