PHACTR4/STAT3 axis as a possible target therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affects predominantly patients with chronic liver diseases such ashepatitis B, hepatitis C, conditions known as hyper carcinogenic state1. Currently, the treatment of HCCprovides several options including local treatment, surgical resection, liver transplantation, radiofrequencyablation, chemoembolization, and chemotherapy2. In patients with advanced HCC, sorafenibtreatment, significantly increases overall survival and reduces the progression of the disease3. However,despite such new advances in the treatment of HCC, the outcome of HCC remains poor. Therefore, understandingthe molecular signaling underlying HCC progression and metastatic process is of great relevancein order to provide new pharmacological agents