STAT3 and melanoma: Our subsequent analysis revealed that IκBζ promoted the activation of the transcription factors STAT3 and NF-κB in melanoma, leading to increased gene expression of cytokines and growth factors, such as IL1B and IL6. As a result, we found that IκBζ expression promoted self-sustained tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth in an IL-6- and IL-1-dependent manner.