These findings highlight the role of macrophages and their exosomal miR-92a-2-5p in regulating HCC and suggest that targeting the macrophages/exosomes-miR-92a-2-5p/AR/PHLPP/p-AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway could serve as a promising strategy for the development of novel treatments to effectively suppress HCC progression. Here, PHLPP1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.