In macrophages, the homeo-domain protein Six1 overexpression was able to induce IL-6 up-regulation and increase activity of STAT3 in Hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Macrophages Six1 upregulate IL-6 and MMP-9 and can stimulate cancer cell invasion by elevating MMP-9 expression. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.