STAT3 and cancer: Activated STAT3 protein lead to the transcription of various downstream target genes such as IL-17, IL-23, BCL-XL, BCL-2, MCL1, cyclin D1 (CCDN1), c-MYC, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that control essential pro-carcinogenic, inflammation-associated networks during cancer progression (66, 67, 71, 72).