STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In addition, experimental data appear to be consistent in supporting the epidemiological and animal findings, as estrogen can inhibit HCC by regulating several signalling pathways including the induction of apoptosis in HCC cells, inactivation of the liver macrophages, downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, suppression of NF-κB and targeting IL-6 and STAT3 [13].