A method of identifying and validating a test agent as an anti-cancer stem cell selective agent, the method comprising: i) contacting one or more neoplastic stem cell variants with the test agent and one or more normal stem cells with the test agent; ii) detecting a change in the cell count of the neoplastic stem cell variants in response to the test agent, and detecting a change in the cell count of normal stem cells in response to the test agent; iii) identify the test agent as a selective agent against cancer stem cells if contact with the test agent induces a decrease in the cell count of the neoplastic stem cell variants without inducing a comparable decrease in normal stem cells; and optionally iv) contacting the neoplastic stem cell variants and normal stem cells with the test agent in a plurality of test concentrations and detecting a change in cell count for one or more neoplastic stem cell variants and for normal stem cells at the plurality of test concentrations; wherein the change in the cell count for the neoplastic stem cell variants is detected between approximately 48 hours and 96 hours after contacting the cells with the test agent and the change in the cell count for the cells is detected. Normal mothers between approximately 4 days and 6 days after contacting the cells with the test agent.
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