In this special issue, we have invited 7 reviews to discuss recent advances in precision cancer medicine, which include new PI3K/mTOR pathway inhibitors, endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors, NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy, microRNAs and alternative splicing as potential new diagnostic markers and cancer drug targets, and intra-tumor heterogeneity of cancer cells and their implications in cancer treatment. All of these studies support the new exciting development in cancer medicine in order to tailor effective cancer treatment precisely based on the molecular signatures of cancers in target.

In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), diseases are treated with a combination of herbs (Fangji) according to the Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi principle for well-defined roles of targeting major and minor problems. While the empirical Fangji therapy of disease has been proven clinically effective the underlying mechanisms for the combined targets remain mysteries. Fangjiomics systematically studies myriad compatible combinations that act through multiple targets and balance on- and off-targets. By prioritizing targets, Fangjiomics addresses the key components and issues in combination therapies and may lead to novel controllable array-designed therapies to combine less potent elements with more on-target and fewer off-target effects. This forthcoming Special Issue of Acta Pharmacologica Sinica assembles a series of updated omic studies on several famous Fangjis from view of systems biology and network pharmacology.

Nuclear receptors are DNA-binding and ligand-regulated transcriptional factors that play crucial roles in many aspects of human physiology and consist of an important family of drug targets. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the cloning of the first member of the nuclear receptor family and 25th year of the discovery of orphan nuclear receptors, for which No. cognate ligands were known at the time of their cloning. Since then we have witnessed a tremendous expansion of our knowledge of this family of receptors. In this special issue, 11 review articles highlight our key understanding of structure, function, disease relevance, and drug discovery of nuclear receptors.

The word autophagy is derived from the Greek roots "auto"(self) and "phagy" (eating) and broadly refers to the cellular catabolic processes, in which cytoplasmic materials are transported to lysosomes for degradation. Important progress has been achieved in the recent years in defining the role of autophagy in human diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, metabolism disorders, immune-mediated diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, a number of drugs in the clinical trials against cancers, immune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases affect or act through autophagy. It is conceivable that exploring the molecular mechanisms of autophagy opens an avenue for development of novel drugs to treat these devastating diseases. In order to give a broad picture on recent progress in autophagy research and help deliver a deep insight into autophagy biology and the related disease, Acta Pharmacologica Sinica launched this special issue on "Autophagy and Drug Discovery". As the editors for this special edition, we invited several experts in China and abroad to contribute 13 articles, which cover the important aspects of basic and clinical research on autophagy and reflect on recent developments in this field.

During the past few years, we witnessed explosive progress in the field of stem cell research, leading to an increasing hope for more effective cell replacement therapies to treat various diseases. The self-renewal capability of stem cells, combined with their ability to differentiate into different cell types under programmed conditions, enables improved models for drug discovery and mechanism-based studies of diseases, hence laying the foundation for their therapeutic applications. In fact, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based transplantation therapy has already been performed in rodent models. This special edition of Acta Pharmacologica Sinica on "stem cell therapy and drug discovery" includes 11 articles that highlight both new findings and emerging ideas in different aspects of stem cell technologies, clinical therapies and drug discoveries. The collection of these impressive articles provides an excellent reference map for experts and a point of entry into this exciting research field for the novice.

This issue covers our current understanding of the pathophysiological roles of the ion channels and exchangers involved in non-glutamate mechanisms in cerebral ischemia and stroke, as well as their potential for therapeutic intervention. These non-glutamate mechanisms include TRP channels, KATP channels, chloride channels, acid-sensing ion channels, hemichannels, Vol.-regulated anion channels, adenosine receptors, nitrogen species, neural precursor cells, retinal ischemia, and neuron glial cells. The articles highlight novel therapeutic strategies for targeting non-glutamate mechanisms to prevent neuronal damage in stroke and to promote neuronal survival, regeneration and functional recovery after stroke, thus providing long-term economic, social, and healthcare benefits worldwide.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface communicating molecules. They facilitate diverse extracellular signals and, therefore, play a crucial role in numerous physiological processes and diseases. Subsequently, GPCRs have become drug targets for many major diseases. To date, however, only a small proportion of GPCRs have been investigated as targets, so this area still shows great potential in combatting many other diseases. The March 2012 issue contains a special feature on GPCRs including articles by leading experts on GPCR structures, biology, diseases, and drug discovery. Further background information on this important topic is available through the accompanying web focus which links to related articles from across Nature Publishing Group.

Obesity is the primary health threat of the 21st century. The last 30 years have seen a dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity, especially in the developed countries. Such an increase has played a significant role on the overall health of these nations, and, in turn, has led to significant increases in healthcare expenditure. The February 2012 issue contains a special feature on Obesity including articles by leading experts on several topics that relate to obesity etiology, animal models, therapeutics and clinical implications. Further background information on this important topic is available through the accompanying web focus which links to related articles from across Nature Publishing Group.

Covering the latest in pharmacology, Acta Pharmacologica Sinica is proud to present some of the most accessed articles during 2010, as chosen by the Editor. These articles highlight the latest within pharmacology and the life sciences, covering a range of topics including cardiovascular medicine, neuroscience, cancer, immunology, molecular cell biology, endocrinology, chemistry, and methods and protocols.

Channelopathies are diseases that result from functional disturbances of ion channels or the proteins that regulate them. The June special issue brings together a selection of articles dealing with the various ion channels, including aquaporins, potassium channels, chloride channels, sodium channels and calcium channels, that are involved in maladies such as cardiovascular disease, brain injury, reproductive disease and kidney disease and the recent advances that have been made in identifying potential drug targets for treating these diseases. The accompanying web focus presents additional links to related articles in this area from across Nature Publishing Group.

The October special issue on vascular biology and vascular disease brings together the latest reviews and articles in the field. Together with this web focus APS delves into our current understanding and investigates recent advances in various aspects of vascular injury, including vascular stiffness, vascular aging, phenotypic alteration, lipid transportation, and endothelium dysfunction.

The 30th Anniversary Special Issue (September 2010) of APS brings together a series of thought-provoking Perspectives, Reviews and Original Articles on various outstanding issues in pharmacology today. This accompanying web focus provides a collection of recent developments in these fields. Select articles have been set free for a limited time.