Presence of pSTAT3 in cells located in lamina propria, in addition to epithelial cells (Fig 2 bottom right) is well documented in colitis-related cancer and reflects activated state of lamina propria-residing macrophages; yet, epithelial STAT3 activation was proven as the critical step in colitis-driven, IL-6 dependent tumorigenesis [44,47]. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and colitis.