STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: STAT prevents the anti-apoptosis effect of sorafenib by modulating Mcl-1 expression.266–268 Moreover, STAT3 partially contributes to the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib-mediated cell death.269 In contrast, some cytokines that do not activate cytokine receptors negatively regulate HCC progression by inhibiting the JAK/STAT pathway.