STAT3 and cancer: HCCs are complex ecosystems that include non-tumor cells, primarily immune-related cells, as well as tumor cells.4,5 Non-immune and immune cells, cytokines such interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) play central roles in inflammation cancer.6,7 IL-6 belongs to the cytokine family that signals via the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway.8–10 IL-6 has a predominant role in the tumor microenvironment which is found at high concentrations in cancer.11