Analysis of the TCGA database further revealed that co-expression of PLK1 and STAT3 significantly worsened survival prognosis in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients but had no discernible impact in those with non-EGFR mutations (Supplementary Fig. 3A), indicating the critical role of PLK1-STAT3 interplay in EGFR-mutant NSCLC. This evidence concerns the gene PLK1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.