STAT3 and ovarian cancer: On the other hand, an increase in MMP2 and MMP9 expression was observed in ovarian cancer cell lines in parallel with increased migratory potential of these cells [26], and downregulation of STRA6 or RBP4 in colon cancer cells decreased the fraction of cancer stem cells and tumor initiation frequency through mechanisms dependent on the activation of the STRA6 receptor by bound RBP4 and further transduction of the JAK2-STAT3 signaling cascade [18].