IL6 and rectal cancer: To assess the influence of the gp130/JAK signaling cascade on CRT resistance, we treated the human rectal cancer cell lines SW837 and SW1463, both of which are STAT3-positive and CRT-resistant with a chimeric fusion protein, called Hyper-IL-6, which encompasses IL-6 and the soluble IL-6 receptor chain and therefore mimics IL-6 signaling via membrane-bound and soluble IL-6 receptor [22] (see also Figure S2).