More specifically, an IPA upstream regulator analysis of DEGs comparing old Cd44+ vs old Cd44− hepatocytes predicted activation of inflammation-related regulators such as IL6 and STAT3 in old Cd44+ hepatocytes (Fig. 2E, Supplementary Data T5), key components in the IL6-JAK-STAT3 pathway that are frequently activated in cancer, including liver cancer27,28. This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and cancer.