The IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signalling pathway plays an important role in human malignancies such as CRC.12,15,46,48,49 One of the downstream target genes of this signalling cascade is the negative feedback regulator suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 [SOCS3] that inhibits STAT3 activation in CRC.50,51 Therefore, we studied the effects of IL-6 and IL-9 on the STAT3/SOCS3 pathway in IECs. The gene discussed is SOCS3; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.