It has been demonstrated in HCC that M2 macrophages can improve EMT tumour metastasis through production IL-1β and HGF47 while M1 macrophages inhibits tumour metastasis by distinct integrin–Rho GTPase–Hippo pathways.26 Interestingly, sorafenib was recently reported to induce EMT and promote invasiveness and metastasis of HCC cells by downregulation of HTATIP2 expression via JAK-STAT3 signalling in orthotopic mouse models.48 Here, STAT3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.