Sorafenib and its new derivative sc-59 downregulated the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), decreased the expression of Mcl-1, released the binding relationship between Beclin 1 and Mcl-1, and induced autophagy of PLC5 (a HCC cell line) in a time-- and dose-dependent manner67. This evidence concerns the gene MCL1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.