Constitutive Stat3 signaling appears to play a role in the cell transformation and tumour progression by stimulating cell growth, promoting tumour angiogenesis, mediating immune evasion and conferring resistance to apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic agents (Niu et al, 2002; Real et al, 2002; Wei et al, 2003; Wang et al, 2004). The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is neoplasm.