STAT3 and gastric cancer: Stress-related hormones such as norepinephrine have been demonstrated to promote gastric cancer progression and metastasis through β2-AR signaling.286,287 Mechanistically, this involves MMP-7 upregulation,288 EMT induction,289 AMPK-ULK1 pathway-mediated autophagy,287 and activation of the ERK1/2-JNK-MAPK cascade and transcription factors (e.g., NF-κB, AP-1, CREB, and STAT3),286 collectively fostering tumor growth and dissemination.