STAT3 and cancer: The ALK gene encodes the ALK tyrosine kinase receptor and is associated with many types of cancers, including NSCLC [14]. There are three types of ALK mutations: rearrangement (ALK-R), amplification (ALK-A), and point mutation. ALK gene rearrangement is a driving mutation underlying the development of NSCLC [15], which appears to be more common in younger patients and never or light smokers diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. ALK can phosphorylate STAT3 and PI3K independently of ERK to antagonise apoptosis and promote cell survival [16].