Short-term sorafenib treatment decreased the amount of F4/80+/CD206+ M2 macrophages (see Fig. 6e) but long-term sorafenib exposure increased HGF synthesis and secretion, along with increased levels of c-Met and pMet.50,51 Since sorafenib is also an antiangiogenic agent, the anti-tumour effect might be associated with the antiangiogenic activity,54 off-tumour adverse effects55 and even tumour metastasis56 under certain circumstances.57 We examined tumour vasculature in SR and SS tumours by CD31 staining. Here, HGF is linked to neoplasm.