STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Previous studies proved that: (1) miR-124 and IL-6R expression levels are inversely correlated in hepatocellular cancer cell lines; (2) miR-124 overexpression inhibits the activity of a luciferase reporter construct containing the IL-6R 3′UTR and vice versa; (3) downstream targeting of IL-6R and phosphorylation of STAT3 is induced by inhibition of miR-124 (52).