The forest map generated through merging GADD45G expression data in HCC and non-cancer liver samples from RNA-seq dataset and microarray datasets also confirmed the significant low expression of GADD45G mRNA in HCC (SMD, − 0.78; 95% CI, − 1.03 to − 0.54; p = 0.000) (Fig. 3A). Here, GADD45G is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.