STAT3 and malignant colon neoplasm: The production of a mutagenic microenvironment aids cancer development by macrophages, which may release inflammatory mediators like IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ, growth factors like epidermal growth factor (EGF) and Wnt, proteases, ROS, and nitrogen compounds.310 Grivennikov’s group found that TAM-derived IL-17 and IL-23 were associated with colon cancer development and progression.311 Kong et al.312 found that IL-6 produced by TAMs promoted HCC growth by activating the STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting that IL-6 was involved in HCC formation.