Research progresses of correlation between STAT3 and radiosensitivity

Radiotherapy is one of the main methods in cancer treatment, but the tumor radioresistance is a main point influencing the efficiency of radiotherapy. STAT3 is an important member of the STAT family and it is closely correlated with tumor incidence and development. The expression of STAT3 can be altered by ionizing radiation and hence it could affect radiosensitivity of tumour cells by regulating DNA damage, autophagy, apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion and immune suppression. Accordingly, the deep understanding the role of STAT3 in radiation sensitivity may provide a new strategy for clinical cancer therapy. (authors)