Open Access

Molecular mechanism, regulation, and therapeutic targeting of the STAT3 signaling pathway in esophageal cancer (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Rui-Jie Ma
    • Chao Ma
    • Kang Hu
    • Meng-Meng Zhao
    • Nan Zhang
    • Zhi-Gang Sun
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 13, 2022     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2022.5395
  • Article Number: 105
  • Copyright: © Ma et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common cancer globally, and the overall 5‑year survival rate is only 20%. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is aberrantly activated in EC, and its activation is associated with a poor prognosis. STAT3 can be activated by canonical pathways such as the JAK/STAT3 pathway as well as non‑canonical pathways including the Wnt/STAT3 and COX2/PGE2/STAT3 pathways. Activated STAT3, present as phosphorylated STAT3 (p‑STAT3), can be transported into the nucleus to regulate downstream genes, including VEGF, cyclin D1, Bcl‑xL, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), to promote cancer cell proliferation and induce resistance to therapy. Non‑coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs), play a vital role in regulating the STAT3 signaling pathway in EC. Several miRNAs promote or suppress the function of STAT3 in EC, while lncRNAs and circRNAs primarily promote the effects of STAT3 and the progression of cancer. Additionally, various drugs and natural compounds can target STAT3 to suppress the malignant behavior of EC cells, providing novel insights into potential EC therapies.
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September-2022
Volume 61 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Ma R, Ma C, Hu K, Zhao M, Zhang N and Sun Z: Molecular mechanism, regulation, and therapeutic targeting of the STAT3 signaling pathway in esophageal cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 61: 105, 2022
APA
Ma, R., Ma, C., Hu, K., Zhao, M., Zhang, N., & Sun, Z. (2022). Molecular mechanism, regulation, and therapeutic targeting of the STAT3 signaling pathway in esophageal cancer (Review). International Journal of Oncology, 61, 105. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2022.5395
MLA
Ma, R., Ma, C., Hu, K., Zhao, M., Zhang, N., Sun, Z."Molecular mechanism, regulation, and therapeutic targeting of the STAT3 signaling pathway in esophageal cancer (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 61.3 (2022): 105.
Chicago
Ma, R., Ma, C., Hu, K., Zhao, M., Zhang, N., Sun, Z."Molecular mechanism, regulation, and therapeutic targeting of the STAT3 signaling pathway in esophageal cancer (Review)". International Journal of Oncology 61, no. 3 (2022): 105. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2022.5395