In particular, the activation of IL-6/STAT3 dependent regulation of the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases/protein kinase B (PI3K/AkT) mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, together with increased degradation and low availability of amino acids, may contribute to defective erythropoiesis in advanced cancer patients. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and cancer.