STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: IL-6 plays a role in primary tumor progression, which induced MEK/ERK and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways lead to cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis; However, direct proof of the impact of IL-6 on therapy target of sorafenib treatment such as MEK/ERK and JAK2/STAT3 is missing and further studies in which IL-6 knockout is conducted and its impact on HCC cell behavior and anti-cancer effect needs to be tested.