STAT3 and colorectal carcinoma: The results showed that: (i) Visfatin indeed increases AREG expression in HCT-116 CRC cells, thereby reducing the sensitivity of the cells to 5-FU cytotoxicity; (ii) the potential transcription factors controlling AREG upregulation include STAT3 and CREB; and (iii) JNK1/2 and p38 signaling are important downstream pathways of Visfatin, influencing STAT3/CREB activation and subsequent AREG upregulation.