IL6 and cancer: Pharmacological studies indicate that combining cisplatin with honokiol significantly enhances its therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects, particularly in colorectal and ovarian cancer.28,29 For instance, honokiol has been shown to regulate interleukin 6 (IL-6)/STAT3 signaling pathway in oral carcinoma stem cells, sensitizing cancer cells to cisplatin.30 In addition, when combined with curcumin, honokiol sensitizes multidrug-resistant lung cancer cells to cisplatin.31