However, it is well-known that STAT3 phosphorylation could also be stimulated by other factors, such as IL-6 and VEGFA [19, 20], and we also confirmed that the levels of IL-6 or VEGFA were increased in the supernatant of HCC cells compared to that of the control hepatocytes (data not shown). This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.