Furthermore, knockdown of stiffness-sensor molecule integrin α5 or integrin β1 attenuated higher stiffness-induced mesenchymal shift, but S100A11 upregulation partially reversed this inhibitory effect and restored EMT phenotype (Additional file 4: Figure S3A, B), revealing a significant role of S100A11 in higher stiffness-induced EMT in HCC. Here, S100A11 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.