The high levels of cytokine proteins in supernatants produced by breast cancer cells after paclitaxel withdrawal prompted us to examine the status of several inflammation-associated pathways, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is breast carcinoma.