STAT3 and neoplasm: Since intestinal epithelial cells usually do not express the membrane-bound IL-6R, some authors consider that effects of IL-6 on colorectal cancer cells are mainly modulated through IL-6 trans-signaling promoting tumor cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis through gp130 activation on tumor cells and then with signaling through Janus kinases (JAKs) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) [24, 26].