title: STAT3 inhibition, a novel approach to enhancing targeted therapy in human cancers (review).
abstract: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) regulates many critical functions in human normal and malignant tissues, such as differentiation, proliferation, survival, angiogenesis and immune function. Constitutive activation of STAT3 is implicated in a wide range of human cancers. As such, STAT3 has been studied as a tumour therapeutic target. This review aimed principally to summarise the updated research on STAT3 inhibition studies and their therapeutic potential in solid tumours. Recent literature associated with STAT3 inhibition was reviewed through PubMed and Medline database, followed by critical comparison and analysis. Constitutive activation of STAT3 has been identified as abnormal and oncogenic. The pathway of STAT3 activation and signal transduction identifies 3 approaches for inhibition: modulating upstream positive or negative regulators, regulating RNA (DN-STAT3, anti-sense RNA, siRNA and microRNA) or targeting STAT3 protein at different domains. The last approach using small molecule STAT3 inhibitors has been the most examined so far with both preclinical and clinical studies. Targeting STAT3 using a specific inhibitor may be a useful cancer treatment approach, with the potential for a broad clinical impact.
authors: Sarcoma Research Group, Adult Cancer Program, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
authors: Xiaochun
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Crowe
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Goldstein
authors: Jia-Lin
authors: JL
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016372:RNA, Antisense; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human