The goal of CESAR-EWIV is the development of new antitumoral agents and/or therapies and/or therapeutic strategies based on expertise in the fields of tumor biology, molecular biology, chemistry, pharmacology, clinical pharmacology and clinical oncology. The inter-disciplinary working group (CESAR-APOH) consists of clinical oncologists, pediatric oncologists, clinical pharmacologists and clinical pharmacists who meet once a year to discuss their latest scientific results. Within this meeting, the 10th interdisciplinary workshop of the Cooperative Study Group Cellular Resistance (www.cellular-resistance.de) has also been integrated. The personal host was Professor Dr. Frank Gieseler, to whom, on behalf of all participants, I would like to extend heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding organization. Two issues, the importance of basic research and the challenges of applied clinical research have been emphasized. Due to the carefully chosen topics and the fact that all speakers were allowed enough time for an in-depth discussion, a well-founded debate was possible. We are pleased to present this special issue as an example for interdisciplinary cooperation on a high scientific level.