Fig. 3
From: Transcription factors in fibroblast plasticity and CAF heterogeneity
STAT3 signaling targeting modulates the stroma by affecting CAF activation/functions and cancer cell/CAF crosstalk in PDAC and NSCLC. Effects of the JAK/STAT axis targeting by JAK inhibitor AZD1480 on: (A) reprogramming inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs) in a mouse model of PDAC; (B) affecting in vivo drug delivery and therapeutic response in PDAC, in combination with gemcitabine [119, 120]. C Hampering CAF activity and the crosstalk between NSCLC cells and CAFs through STAT3 silencing by an aptamer-based strategy [121]; (D) Reprogramming of the CAF population and the immune microenvironment to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in PDAC by the combination of MEKi (trametinib) and STAT3i (ruxolitinib) [122]