Activated pathways in head tumours relative to distal tumours included those with roles in tissue repair (inhibition of matrix metalloproteases), inflammatory signalling in muscle wasting (antioxidant action of vitamin C, STAT3 pathway), lipid [liver X receptors (LXR)/retinoid X receptors (RXR) activation] and muscle (neuregulin signalling) homeostasis, as well as drug and nutrient [xenobiotic metabolism constitutive active/androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) signalling pathways] metabolism. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and neoplasm.