In colon cancer, STAT3 could regulate the EMT in a ZEB1‐dependent pathway, where knockdown of ZEB1 blocked the promoting effects of STAT3 on the EMT colon cancer cell.26 Unlike the relationship between STAT3 and ZEB1, our study showed that HOTAIR and STAT3 independently regulate colon cancer cell apoptosis and invasion. The gene discussed is ZEB1; the disease is colonic neoplasm.