SPP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: The combined therapy increased STAT1 and SOCS1 and apoptosis, butdecreased the expression of the metastatic and angiogenic proteins MMP-2,XIAP, OPN, and VEGF, which are regulated by STAT3 in HCC cells invitro. To assess the effects in vivo, the HCC cell lineHCCLM3 was transplanted subcutaneously into the right flanks of nude mice.Mice in the IFN-α group, the SG600-IL-24 group, or the combined therapygroup had significantly suppressed growth of the HCC xenografted tumorscompared to the PBS control group of mice.