We previously demonstrated that exogenous IL11 phosphorylates STAT3, but not ERK, or AKT in Ishikawa, HEC1A and AN3CA cells in vitro [19] and Ishikawa and HEC1A xenograft tumours in vivo [20], confirming that IL11 likely does not act via these pathways in these cells. Here, STAT3 is linked to neoplasm.