To observe how miR-17-5p-targeted mRNAs affect miR-17-5p expression, we transfected human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 with coding sequences of miR-17-5p target genes; Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), Metallopeptidase inhibitor 2 (Timp2), Metallopeptidase inhibitor 3 (TIMP3), Adenyl cyclase 5 (ADCY5), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α), Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Fibronectin (FN). Here, STAT3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.