BIRC5 and malignant colon neoplasm: Once activated, it plays a critical role in the oncogenesis, proliferation, metastasis and invasion of colon cancers by up-regulating the expression of downstream genes, including cyclin D1, c-myc, bcl-XL, survivin etc. Thus far, a series of STAT3-activating cytokines that promote colon cancer has been identified [3].