Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods to treat a subject having cancer. In one embodiment, a method of treating a subject with cancer may comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one GHRH agonist peptide in combination with at least one anticancer agent. In another embodiment, a method of killing cancer cells may comprise contacting the cancer cells with a composition comprising at least one GHRH agonist peptide and at least one anticancer agent. In some embodiments, the method may be in vitro or in vivo. In an additional embodiment, a method of killing cancer stem cells may comprise contacting the cancer stem cells with a composition comprising at least one GHRH agonist peptide and at least one anticancer agent.