Allosteric inhibitors of the STAT3 signaling pathway

Abstract Over-expression and/or hyperactivation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling are found in various human diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, STAT3 represents a highly promising therapeutic target for the treatment of these diseases. However, the traditional orthosteric inhibitors of STAT3 exhibit limited clinical efficacy, with low selectivity, numerous side effects, and emerging acquired resistance. Allosteric inhibitors targeting STAT3 or its upstream molecules have emerged as a promising approach to overcome these barriers. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the development of these inhibitors as well as their applications.