Research progress of relationship between STAT3 and tumor

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT3) is an important member of the family of signal transducers and activators of transcription, which plays a dual role in signaling and initiating gene transcription in cells. Numerous studies have demonstrated constitutive activation of STAT3 in a wide variety of human tumors. There is strong evidence to suggest that aberrant STAT3 signaling promotes initiation and progression of human cancers by either inhibition of apoptosis or induction of cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, inflammation and immunosuppression. At present, some specific small molecule inhibitors have been developed to target STAT3. However, no drugs have been used in the clinical stage. The identification and development of novel drugs that can target deregulated STAT3 activation effectively remains an important scientific and clinical challenge. This article provides a summary on progress about STAT3 in tumor genesis and new inhibitors of STAT3.