STAT3 and Cirrhosis: Transcription factors following this expression pattern include SOX9, GATA6, HAND2, and IRS2. The only genes differentially expressed between early (T1 and T2) and late-stage (T3 and T4) tumors were EPCAM and tumor suppressor KLF6. Nine genes were down-regulated in cirrhosis and remained low in tumors: transcription factors FOXA1, FOXA2, GATA4, HNF1A and STAT3; growth factor receptors ACVR2B, RXRA; signaling molecule NRTN, and MMP15, which degrades intracellular matrix proteins.