SOCS3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Gao D et al. also observed downregulation of SOCS3 by miR-122 increased the anti-HBV effectiveness of IFN.303 Numerous studies reported that SOCS3 is downregulated in HCC tissues and is negatively implicated in HCC malignant transformation.304,305 SOCS3 methylation was discovered to be more frequent in HBV-positive HCC than in normal liver tissues and was associated with poor HCC outcomes.