Abstract: Methods are provided for treating cancer patients who have elevated expression of FOXC2. In certain aspects, patients having elevated FOXC2 are treated with an anti-cancer therapy in conjunction with a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Methods of identifying cancer patients to be treated with p38 MAPK inhibitors are also provided. Further provided herein are methods for treating and/or preventing breast cancer metastasis by the administration of a p38 MAPK inhibitor. In certain aspects, patients are treated with an anti-cancer therapy in conjunction with a p38 MAPK inhibitor. In addition, methods are provided for the treatment of BCR-ABL positive cancers, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, by the administration of a p38 MAPK inhibitor and/or a glucocorticoid inhibitor in combination with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention provides biomarkers of cancer stem cells, as well as cells that have undergone EMT. In addition, the present invention provides methods of treating patients determined to comprise cancer stem cells with PDGFR-? inhibitors to eliminate the cancer stem cells. Methods of predicting sensitivity to PDGFR-? inhibitors, monitoring efficacy of treatment, and determining a prognosis are also provided.