STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Activated p-STAT3 is widely considered functional by the activation of transcription after transport to the nucleus [28]; however, our study suggested a different functional pattern of STAT3, in which most p-STAT3 remained in the cytoplasm and coordinated the Notch and Wnt/β-catenin pathways to facilitate EMT induction and HCC metastasis triggered by KIAA1217.