Media of cultured macrophages can stimulate IL‐10 production in several human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines through a mechanism involving IL‐6Recombinant IL‐6 (but not recombinant IL‐10), TNFα and IFNα stimulated IL‐10 secretion in colon cancer cell linesIL‐10 gene regulation was mediated by STAT3. This mechanism was regulated by IL‐6. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is colonic neoplasm.