A random model was used because of a significant heterogeneity (P < 0.001, I2 = 69.3%), and the result demonstrated that high density of intratumoral CD68+ TAMs in patients with HCC was associated with a poor OS (pooled HR = 1.417; 95% CI = 1.092–1.839; P = 0.009) and high density of peritumoral CD68+ TAMs was also associated with a poor OS (pooled HR = 1.393; 95% CI = 1.022–1.899; P = 0.036) (Fig 2). This evidence concerns the gene CD68 and hepatocellular carcinoma.