AKR1C1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: As shown in Figure 6(a), the expression of AKR1C1, phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), and phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2) in HCC cells was significantly downregulated after 3-MA or ZnS treatment when compared with that in the control cells (P < 0.01).