Stat3: Linking inflammation to (gastrointestinal) tumourigenesis

Abstract

Tumourigenesis is a multistage process comprising initiation, promotion and progression that is governed by cumulative (epi-)genetic changes. However, tumour initiation, triggered by mutations in proto-oncogenes and/or tumour suppressor genes, is insufficient for the development of cancers. Tumour promotion often depends on the interaction between initiated cells and the microenvironment where an excessive abundance of inflammatory mediators, including those of the interleukin (IL-)6/glycoprotein 130 (gp130) family, promote their expansion. The activity of most soluble mediators ultimately converges on tumour cells through activation of the latent transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-κB..