STAT3 and non-small cell lung carcinoma: In summary, based on the previous findings that AKR1C1 plays a crucial role in cell proliferation and metastasis in NSCLC, and overexpression of AKR1C1 is related to poor prognosis in NSCLC patients, our studies convincingly demonstrate that using small-molecule ALA to target AKR1C1, leading to the inactivation of its downstream STAT3 signaling pathways, is feasible with regard to the suppression of the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC (Figure 5G).