ADIPOQ and hepatocellular carcinoma: Adiponectin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by blocking downstream pathways including signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR); it has also anti-inflammatory effects by regulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling (21).