STAT3 and liver cancer: Among these studies, an increased IL-6 expression has been linked with HCC development.38, 43 Specifically, activation of IL-6 signaling through phosphorylation of STAT3 at Tyr705 and Ser727 has been detected in a wide variety of mouse and human liver cancer including IHCA.28, 43, 44, 45, 46 Especially in IHCA, dominant-active mutational changes in different proteins contributing to gp130-STAT3 activation are essential to lead toward benign tumor growth.43 However, the transition of IHCA into HCC and thus tumor initiation is not frequently found.47