Document Type : Original Article(s)
Authors
Hunan Aerospace Hospital, ChangSha, China
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with limited treatment options. HO-3867, a STAT3 inhibitor, has shown anticancer effects in other malignancies, but its role in HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of HO-3867 against HCC.
Method: We conducted an experimental study combining in-vitro cell assays (proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis analysis, Western blot) using HCC cell lines and in-vivo nude mouse xenograft model, and all quantitative experimental data were statistically analyzed using unpaired two-tailed Student's t-test for comparisons between two groups and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post-hoc test for multiple group comparisons, with a P-value less than 0.05 defined as statistically significant.
Results: HO-3867 significantly inhibited HCC cell viability, colony formation, and induced apoptosis in-vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in-vivo via inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation and downstream anti-apoptotic protein expression.
Conclusion: HO-3867 exerts potent anti-HCC effects through targeting STAT3 signaling, providing a preclinical basis for further clinical development.
Keywords
Main Subjects
Please cite this article as: Xiao Z, Hu J. HO-3867 induces cell apoptosis by reducing STAT3 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Middle East J Cancer. 2026: in press. doi: 10.30476/mejc.2026.107082.2282.
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