Although, STAT3 activation resulting from increased EGFR signaling has been implicated in the development of lung adenocarcinomas [29], the cell-cell contact-induced STAT3 phosphorylation was not affected by CD43 signaling since STAT3 phosphorylation levels were comparable in A549 cells with impaired CD43 expression as in wild-type cells. Here, STAT3 is linked to lung adenocarcinoma.