STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: For example, the effectiveness of miR-491 in inhibiting the proliferation of HCC cells is evident, as elevated miR-491 expression correlates with reduced levels of EGFR and STAT3 phosphorylation miR-491 plays a pivotal role in impeding the expansion of liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB [10].