ITGA6 and cancer: One plausible explanation for this response of IL-6 treated cancer cells to compression is that once compression occurs, it activates a mechanosensor, such as integrin-associated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in response to mechanical stress.42, 43 Similarly, our study shows that expression of ITGA6, ITGB2 and ITGA2 are significantly increased in the compression group compared with controls (Figure 4e).