STAT3 and neoplasm: Since STAT3, ERK1/2, and WNT/β-catenin are key oncogenic signaling pathways in CRC (28–30), we examined phosphorylation of STAT3 and ERK1/2 as well as nuclear localization of β-catenin in the tumor cell compartment of Phd2+/– and WT control tumors by IHC.