STAT3 and urinary bladder carcinoma: Alternative explanation is the down regulation of counter balancing signal transduction pathways, such as SH2-containing tyrosine phosphotase (SHP1 and 2), protein inhibitors of activated Stats (PIAS), and suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS), could also contribute to higher Stat3 phosphorylation in these bladder cancer tissues or cell lines [5].