STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Moreover, blocking the phosphorylation/activation of STAT3 through small molecule inhibitors (C188-9, curcumin, OPB-31121, S31-201, LLL12 and AZD9150, some included in clinical trials) resulted in reduced proliferation of HCC cell lines, a reduced size of tumors in xenograft experiments, and the reduced apoptosis of HCC cells [104].