Those down-regulated TFs in SCLC (JUNB, NFKB1, VENTX, CREB3L1, REST, RARB, FOXO1, EGR1, TP63, ZBTB7A, STAT3, MEOX1, FOSL2, RARG, GATA5, RXRA, NPAS2, LEF1, BCL6, TCF12) were functionally linked to cell differentiation (‘positive regulation of cell differentiation’, ‘epithelial cell differentiation’) and immune responses (‘inflammatory response’, ‘T cell aggregation’, ‘positive regulation of cytokine production, ‘leukocyte migration’) (Additional file 2: Table S2). The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is small cell lung carcinoma.