STAT3 is an important oncogenic transcription factor, and phosphorylation of Bcl-2 regulates the expression of genes that prevent apoptosis, angiogenesis-related (e.g., VEGF), and some specific factors (e.g., S100A9), which are all relevant to colitis-associated colorectal cancer tumor invasion, metastasis and prognosis. Here, STAT3 is linked to colorectal cancer.