The stimulation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway enhances the invasiveness and metastatic potential of tumor cells by: a) The activation of STAT3 in OSCC cells results in elevated expression of MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9), a crucial enzyme that destroys the extracellular matrix (ECM), hence promoting cancer cell invasion and metastasis. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and neoplasm.