STAT3 and cholangiocarcinoma: For example, interleukin-6, an inflammatory cytokine, promotes human cholangiocarcinoma cells grown in vivo by inhibiting apoptosis through the activation of miRNAs including miR let-7a and miR370, thereby modulating the activation of STAT-3 pathways (Meng et al, 2007, 2008; Smirnova et al, 2007).