In 2020, Zhang and his team confirmed that P2X7R is involved in the activation of STAT3 signal and the regulation of EMT-related gene expression in colon cancer cells induced by ATP, and the activation of P2X7R can also stimulate STAT3 pathway and regulate the expression of MMP-2 and E-cadherin. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and malignant colon neoplasm.