- JAK/STAT pathway implicated L6 released by macrophages surrounding nasopharyngeal epithelial cells, binds to its receptor and activates STAT3, which triggers transcription of its target genes (cyclin D1, Bcl-xL, c-myc, survivin, VEGF). A correlation of VEGF expression as a key angiogenic factor in NPC metastasis is supported. The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is nasopharyngeal carcinoma.