When compared with the naïve cells, the sorafenib-resistant HCC cells showed a higher value of IC50 (15.76 μM vs. 9.52 μM) (Fig. 6a), and expressed higher levels of IL-6R, DNMT3b and stemness-related genes (Fig. 6b and Additional file 1: Figure S7). This evidence concerns the gene IL6R and hepatocellular carcinoma.