IL‐8 signalling is mediated through the G‐protein coupled receptors CXCR1/2 and has been associated with a poor prognosis in colon cancer.50, 51 It can also activate STAT3, AKT, ERK and EGFR signalling, which can enhance migration and inhibit anoikis of tumour cells.52 Our results demonstrated the involvement in STAT3 signalling (Figure 3) with increased expression of CXCR1/2 (Figure 5A,B), resulting in the overexpression of IL‐8 in ZNF143‐silenced cells (Figure 5C). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is neoplasm.