STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Therefore, we also detected the expression of key molecules in inflammation-related pathways in HCC patients, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (P38MAPK), janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB), and inhibitor kappa B kinase β (IKKβ).