STAT3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Phosphorylated STAT3 subsequently translocates into the nucleus and acts as a transcription factor to regulate many genes, such as SOCS3, c-Myc and CCND1. In HCC, STAT3 is commonly recognized to promote HCC tumour growth, tumour metastasis, angiogenesis, antiapoptosis activity and therapy resistance [17–21].