IL6 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Thus, cardiomyocyte apoptosis occurs in our model of severe HS and contributes to left ventricular dysfunction and HCC; the cardioprotective effects of IL-6 in HCC are mediated in part by Stat3 through its ability to prevent cardiomyocyte apoptosis and “normalize” the shock-induced, apoptosis pathway transcriptome.