The present invention provides an anti-cancer lipid-based composition that kills very aggressive pancreatic cancer cells and breast cancer stem cell (CSC)-like cells. This composition is a concoction of an anti-cancer agent, ESC8 and a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-targeting cationic lipid delivery system, DX which is further complexed with plasmid DNA. This composition shows anti-cancer effect and initiates killing of cancer cells and CSC-like cells within 3 h. When anti-cancer gene encoded plasmid is used, residual cancer cells were also significantly eradicated after 2 days of exposure. The formulation-free naked ESC8 requires at least ten-fold more concentration and 3 days of continuous treatment to get a similar level of killing. The composition could also inhibit the tumor growth in mice orthotopically implanted with very aggressive mouse breast cancer cell, ANV-1. This cell is known to produce breast CSC-like cells that show phenotype of advanced cancer relapsing. There is no visible toxic effect of this composition when injected in mice, indicating that it has minimum to no toxic effect to normal homeostasis. The present invention is likely to find specific application in developing potential therapeutic treatment for aggressive cancers and CSC-like cancers.