In addition, ICT downregulates the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 pathway activity to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma-initiating cells (HCICs) and effectively reduces the expression of HCIC markers, such as EpCAM, CD133, and CD24, in a dose-dependent manner (Zhao et al., 2015). Here, STAT3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.