STAT3 and melanoma: RT-qPCR results showed that mRNA levels of BCL2L1 (BCL-XL) and MCL1 (involved in melanoma cell survival)7,18, and MMP-2, MMP-9 and VEGF (involved in melanoma metastasis and angiogenesis)7,19,20 that can be transcriptionally upregulated by STAT3 were elevated upon LPS or MPLAs stimulation in melanoma cells (Fig. 3a).