In HCC clinical samples, it is noted that CD206+ M2 macrophages were highly accumulated in peritumour area,49 a fraction of which highly expressed c-Met.58 Increased c-Met expression was independently associated with poor survival in multivariate analysis.59 Importantly, a recent biomarker analysis of samples from the pivotal phase III trial of sorafenib showed a trend toward improved survival in patient with a lower pre-treatment plasma HGF concentration,60 highlighting the clinical importance of tumour-associated M2 macrophages and HGF in tumour response to sorafenib. This evidence concerns the gene HGF and hepatocellular carcinoma.