IL6-induced metastasis modulators p-STAT3, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are targets of 3,3′-diindolylmethane in ovarian cancer cells

Purpose Ovarian cancer is a highly lethal gynecological malignancy for which the overall prognosis has remained poor over the past few decades. Interleukin (IL6) has been found to be a major contributor to the initiation and progression of ovarian cancer. This cytokine exerts its activity through activation of several signaling pathways, in particular the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) pathway. Here, we aimed at investigating the capacity of a natural dietary compound found in cruciferous vegetables, i.e., 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), to target the metastatic phenotype of ovarian cancer cells through functional p-STAT3.