STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Besides, adipocytes differentiated from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been found to secrete factors including IL-6, IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) to foster the CSC behaviors of CD133+EpCAM+ HCC cells via MET, STAT3 and ERK1/2 signaling [96].