STAT3 and paracoccidioidomycosis: Future research must address key gaps to fully translate these insights into clinical practice: longitudinal studies to map the temporal dynamics of “EMT-fibrosis loop” activation across PCM stages (DE, inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis); validation of loop components in human PCM tissues using patient-derived organoids or single-cell transcriptomics; and clinical trials testing combination therapies that co-target inflammation (e.g., JAK/STAT3 inhibitors) and fibrosis (e.g., TGF-β1 blockers) to disrupt PCM’s chronic cycle.