Advances of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia (Review).

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a crucial transcription factor, exerts a notable influence by hyperactivating or acquiring functional mutations in the occurrence and progression of cancers. Hyperactive STAT3 is also implicated in a range of hematopoietic malignancies, especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The function of STAT3 is associated with the phosphorylated parallel dimer structure, enabling them to stimulate the transcription of specific genes. AML is a highly heterogeneous hematological malignancy, which is challenging in terms of therapy. The current efficacy of chemotherapy and targeted therapy remains suboptimal. Targeted inhibition of STAT3 has the potential to enhance the efficacy of AML treatment, thereby possibly improving the prognosis of individuals suffering from AML. The present review summarizes the development of inhibitors against STAT3 and discusses their applicability as AML therapeutics, which could inspire new possibilities for enhancing AML treatment strategies.