STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Our study is conducted to investigate the potential relevance of some biomarkers: matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), superoxide dismutase (SOD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), along with gut microbial variations, for the differentiation between HCV-related cirrhosis and HCC.