Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a transcription factor, plays an important role in cancer cell apoptosis, was found to be inhibited by FZKA, GFTN, and much more in the combination group (FZKA combined with GFTN), both at mRNA and protein levels (Fig. 5a, b). The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is cancer.