While a previous study reported the STAT3 mediates PI3K/AKT activation upon interleukin-6 treatment [40,41], our study showed a decreased protein expression of phospho-p85, phospho-AKT, and phospho-STAT3 in esophageal cancer cells after CYT-Rx20 treatment (Fig 3A). The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is esophageal cancer.