Dong et al. demonstrated that matrix-stiffness signals were transduced by the stiffness sensor integrin α5β1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, further activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, increasing expression of VEGF, and eventually causing lymph angiogenesis and HCC metastasis (Dong et al., 2014). Here, VEGFA is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.