IL6 and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: IL-6 stimulates phosphorylation of STAT3 leading to dimerisation and translocation to the nucleus to activate gene transcription.11 Expression of p-STAT3 is higher in MPNST compared to neurofibromas or Schwannomas, and there was a strong correlation between prolonged survival and low expression of p-STAT3.9 These data support STAT3 as a target in MPNST to potentially slow the growth of the tumour.