PTK2 and neoplasm: Although STAT3 is the important signaling protein in CAFs, and activated STAT3 effectively induces the tumor-promoting function of CAFs, the aim of present study is not to evaluate the tumor-promoting effect of JAKs/STAT3 pathway in CAFs.24,47,48 We have focused on the inhibition of intratumoral FAK and JAK2/STAT3 pathways on the malignant progression of ESCC cells in the presence of CAFs-derived PCs.