STAT3 and familial pancreatic carcinoma: As numerous researchers reported, STAT3 is persistentlyactivated in pancreatic cancer and is associated with poor prognosisof disease.42,48,49 Inhibition of STAT3 expression or blocking its activities by signalingpathway inhibitors suppresses tumor growth and metastasis.50,51 Conditional knockdown of STAT3 in the mouse pancreas had no significanteffect on the pancreas development and function,52 demonstrating STAT3 is a favorable safety target for pancreaticcancer.