REVIEW

Cell Research (2008): 254-267
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STAT3 as a target for inducing apoptosis in solid and hematological tumors

Khandaker Al Zaid Siddiquee and James Turkson

Correspondence: James Turkson Tel: +1 407 882 2441; Fax: +1 407 384 2062 E-mail: jturkson@mail.ucf.edu

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Studies in the past few years have provided compelling evidence for the critical role of aberrant Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in malignant transformation and tumorigenesis. Thus, it is now generally accepted that STAT3 is one of the critical players in human cancer formation and represents a valid target for novel anticancer drug design. This review focuses on aberrant STAT3 and its role in promoting tumor cell survival and supporting the malignant phenotype. A brief evaluation of the current strategies targeting STAT3 for the development of novel anticancer agents against human tumors harboring constitutively active STAT3 will also be presented.

Cell Research (2008) 18:254-267. doi: 10.1038/cr.2008.18; published online 29 January 2008

Keywords: STAT3, DNA-binding, apoptosis, small-molecule inhibitors, cell growth, human tumors