After applying the ‘trim and fill’ method to adjust effects for publication bias, the association between S100A4 expression and tumor differentiation was still found significant (fixed-effect model: OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.45–5.47, P<0.001; random-effect model: OR = 1.98, 95% CI:1.34–2.91, P=0.001), suggesting that this observed publication bias may not influence the pooled results. The gene discussed is S100A4; the disease is neoplasm.