In this study, we show HGF promotes the migration of both hepatoma cells and M2 macrophages, suggesting HGF secreted by tumour-associated M2 macrophages may recruit more macrophages into tumours, regulate the distribution of M2 macrophages in tumour tissues, and thus increase tumour resistance to sorafenib in a feed-forward manner. Here, HGF is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.