STAT3 is constitutively activated across many types of human cancers, including melanoma, as a consequence of aberrant autocrine or paracrine stimulation by cytokines and growth factors, such as interleukins (IL-6, IL-10, IL-12), interferons (IFNs), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF or CSF3), leptin, prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (HGH), epidermal growth factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), and virus proteins (e.g., v-Src, v-Fps, v-Sis). The gene discussed is FGF2; the disease is melanoma.