Erlotinib (ERL), one of the first-generation FDA-approved small molecule EGFR inhibitors used in the treatment of lung and pancreatic cancer, was chosen; a major constituent of Inula helenium Alantolactone (ALA) which was confirmed to possess STAT3 inhibition property in our previous study (Zheng et al., 2019) and also other studies (Chun et al., 2015; Cui et al., 2018), was selected as the STAT3 inhibitor. Here, STAT3 is linked to pancreatic neoplasm.