In addition to TGFβ signaling, increasing matrix stiffness markedly upregulates C‐X‐C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression in HCC cells, and CXCR4 decreases the levels of ubiquitin domain‐containing protein 1 (UBTD1), which functions in the proteasome‐dependent degradation of YAP. This evidence concerns the gene CXCR4 and hepatocellular carcinoma.