Molecular analysis of STAT3 and their association in non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence

BACKGROUND: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 ( STAT3 ) is an essential transcription factor that functions through the Janus kinase/STAT signaling pathway, regulating cell proliferation, survival, tumorigenesis, immune surveillance, and inflammatory responses. Although dysregulated STAT3 activity has been implicated in numerous cancers, its specific contribution to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remains insufficiently defined. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated STAT3 gene expression and two polymorphisms (rs72823022 T/C and rs744166 A/G) to determined their association with NHL susceptibility in an Iraqi population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research follows a case–control study design. Hematological parameters, in addition to serum urea and creatinine levels, were assessed in lymphoma patients ( n = 50) and healthy controls ( n = 50). STAT3 mRNA expression was quantified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and STAT3 polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing (ABI 3730XL platform). RESULTS: STAT3 expression was upregulated in NHL patients compared to controls (mean fold change = 7.88). Some SNP genotypes showed potential protective effects, whereas others showed a trend toward increased susceptibility; however, these associations were not statistically significant . CONCLUSION: STAT3 expression and its genetic variants may serve as potential biomarkers for the risk assessment and early detection of NHL, providing insights that could guide prognostic evaluation and therapeutic strategies.