STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: PD exhibited considerable cytotoxicity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner against HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) cells at 100 μM and 150 μM concentrations, inducing apoptosis and limited G2/M cell cycle arrest while phosphorylated p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), p-Janus kinase 1 and (p)-protein kinase B (AKT) were downregulated [53].