STAT3 and colorectal carcinoma: We found that both genetic inhibition of autophagic flux via silencing of ATG7, a critical gene regulating autophagic flux, and pharmacological inhibition of autophagic flux by NH4Cl decreased the phosphorylation of STAT3 (Fig. 5e, f), suggesting that autophagy promotes the phosphorylation of STAT3 in CRC.