Hepatogenic POSTN upregulates C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2) expression in EPCs via αvβ3/integrin-linked kinase (ILK)/NF-κB pathway, while CCL2 further induces CD36 expression via CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2)/STAT3 pathway by directly binding to the CD36 promoter region, thereby promoting the premetastatic properties of HCC (Deng et al., 2024). This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma.