STAT3 and neoplasm: Autophagy pathways linked to signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) or transforming growth factor β/SMAD (TGFβ/SMAD) may play different roles in BCSCs subsets, as the inhibition of either pathway inhibited the formation of both epithelial and mesenchymal BCSCs colonies and combination treatment limited tumor growth and reduced BCSCs number [86].