STAT3-mediated activation of mitochondrial pathway contributes to antitumor effect of dihydrotanshinone I in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies with a poor prognosis, and its treatment remains a great challenge. Dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS) has been reported to exert antitumor effect in many cancers. However, the role of DHTS in ESCC remains unclear.