CD44 and breast carcinoma: Even though we could not give clear evidence, it is still possible that STAT 3 activity is at least partly involved in RT resistance of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and the regulation of the expressions of CD44, Oct 3/4, β-catenin and MMP-9 because many reports showed that STAT3 activity is closely associated with stem cell-like traits, EMT, and drug resistance [27,38].