Abstract Selective delivery of therapy to tumour cells has been a goal of cancer therapy since the beginning of this century. Progress has been slow until recently when a host of technical developments has made effective therapy of cancer appear to be within reach. Different technologies are contributing in several clinical areas. The UICC Committee for Future Prospects in Cancer Therapy and the Cancer Research Campaign held a meeting at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London to bring together diverse groups working on aspects of targeted cancer therapy. Targeted therapy depends on tumour recognition, a delivery system and a therapeutic modality for tumour killing.