STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: However, the ERK1/2 inhibitor did not affect Sf/CA-induced cell death in either cell line (Tables 1A and 2A, columns 9), but STAT3 inhibition significantly increased cell death in both cell lines (Tables 1B and 2B, columns 9), suggesting that STAT3 can also protect HCC cells from Sf/CA-induced cytotoxicity.