This Gordon Research Conference, held annually since 1978, provides a highly interactive forum for the presentation and discussion of novel drugs, drug targets and the preclinical and clinical development of novel therapeutics. The informality of the meeting venue, coupled with the GRC tradition of lively and extensive discussions of unpublished data, provides a unique opportunity for interactions between individuals from academia, industry and the clinical arena. This year’s meeting will continue the trend of addressing new ideas, questions and solutions at the forefront of cancer therapy. Topics will include: targeting the lipogenic pathways in tumors; cell cycle checkpoint regulation; targeting therapy to BRCA1/2 defective tumors; developmental gene regulation (Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch); impact of stem cells on therapeutic response; solving problems in gene and siRNA delivery; protein phosphatases as therapeutic targets, molecular prognosis, and novel therapeutic technologies (nanotechnology and imaging).