This circuit acts as a potent upstream activator of mTORC1 signaling in obesity-associated HCC, and is cooperatively induced by obesity-driven pro-inflammatory signals (the IL-6/STAT3 axis) and androgen receptor (AR) signaling—providing a molecular explanation for the male predominance in MASH-HCC. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.