Compressive stress–driven Piezo1 activation and Rho-ROCK mechanotransduction promote tumor progression via epigenetic mechanical memory Sarah T. Boyle, David Gallego-Ortega, Edward J. Buckley, Emmanuelle Cognard, M. Zahied Johan, et al. Science Advances, 2026 Rapidly growing tumors experience high tissue-level forces, particularly when growing within a restricted space. These require counteracting by intracellular forces to prevent tissue damage. Here, we reveal the ion channel Piezo1 as a mechanosensor of compressive force, activating Rho–Rho kinase (ROCK) mechanotransduction to generate intracellular forces and enhancing malignant characteristics of tumors. Compressive stress promoted cancer growth in vivo in a Rho-ROCK–dependent manner. Silencing Piezo1 abolished compression-induced Rho-ROCK activation and tumor progression in this model. Accordingly, elevated PIEZO1 is associated with 35% poorer survival of patients with breast cancer. We show that acute compressive forces engender epigenetic mechanical memory via Piezo1-activated Rho-ROCK signaling, promoting tumor growth in vivo. Compressive stress promoted ROCK-dependent histone modifications associated with open chromatin, including acetylation of key histone 3–lysine residues, regulating the expression of cancer-related genes across cell, explant, and in vivo tumor models. Our observations suggest that the PIEZO1-RHO-ROCK axis links tissue-level forces to persistent tumor-promoting epigenetic changes and merits evaluation as a mechanotherapy target in cancer.
Enhanced RHO-ROCK signaling is associated with CRELD2 production and fibroblast recruitment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma Alexandra Pittar, Edward J. Buckley, Sarah T. Boyle, S. Jan Ibbetson, Michael S. Samuel Cytoskeleton, 2024 A key characteristic of cancer cells is their ability to induce changes in their microenvironment that render it permissive to tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Indeed, these changes are required for tumor progression. Consequently, the tumor microenvironment is emerging as a key source of new targets against cancer, with novel therapies aimed at reversing tumor‐promoting changes, reinstating a tumor‐hostile microenvironment and suppressing disease progression. RHO‐ROCK signaling, and consequent tension within the cellular actomyosin cytoskeleton, regulates a paracrine signaling cascade that establishes a tumor‐promoting microenvironment. Here, we show that consistent with our observations in breast cancer, enhanced ROCK activity and consequent production of CRELD2 is associated with the recruitment and tumor‐promoting polarization of cancer‐associated fibroblasts in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Our observations provide support for the notion that the role of RHO‐ROCK signaling in establishing a tumor‐promoting microenvironment may be conserved across patients and potentially also different cancer types.
Temporally resolved proteomics identifies nidogen-2 as a cotarget in pancreatic cancer that modulates fibrosis and therapy response Brooke A. Pereira, Shona Ritchie, Cecilia R. Chambers, Katie A. Gordon, Astrid Magenau, et al. Science Advances, 2024 Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by increasing fibrosis, which can enhance tumor progression and spread. Here, we undertook an unbiased temporal assessment of the matrisome of the highly metastatic KPC ( Pdx1-Cre , LSL-Kras G12D/+ , LSL-Trp53 R172H/+ ) and poorly metastatic KP fl C ( Pdx1-Cre , LSL-Kras G12D/+ , Trp53 fl/+ ) genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic cancer using mass spectrometry proteomics. Our assessment at early-, mid-, and late-stage disease reveals an increased abundance of nidogen-2 (NID2) in the KPC model compared to KP fl C, with further validation showing that NID2 is primarily expressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Using biomechanical assessments, second harmonic generation imaging, and birefringence analysis, we show that NID2 reduction by CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) in CAFs reduces stiffness and matrix remodeling in three-dimensional models, leading to impaired cancer cell invasion. Intravital imaging revealed improved vascular patency in live NID2-depleted tumors, with enhanced response to gemcitabine/Abraxane. In orthotopic models, NID2 CRISPRi tumors had less liver metastasis and increased survival, highlighting NID2 as a potential PDAC cotarget.
An orthotopic syngeneic mouse model of bortezomib-resistant multiple myeloma Manjun Li, Melissa K. Bennett, John Toubia, Victoria S. Pope, Melinda N. Tea, et al. British Journal of Haematology, 2024 SummaryWhile bortezomib has significant benefits in multiple myeloma (MM) therapy, the disease remains incurable due to the invariable development of bortezomib resistance. This emphasises the need for advanced models for preclinical evaluation of new therapeutic approaches for bortezomib‐resistant MM. Here, we describe the development of an orthotopic syngeneic bortezomib‐resistant MM mouse model based on the most well‐characterised syngeneic MM mouse model derived from spontaneous MM‐forming C57BL/KaLwRij mice. Using bortezomib‐resistant 5TGM1 cells, we report and characterise a robust syngeneic mouse model of bortezomib‐resistant MM that is well suited to the evaluation of new therapeutic approaches for proteasome inhibitor‐resistant MM.
Basonuclin-2 regulates extracellular matrix production and degradation Ayla Orang, B Kate Dredge, Chi Yau Liu, Julie M Bracken, Chun-Hsien Chen, et al. Life Science Alliance, 2023 Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is essential for tissue patterning and organization. It involves both regulation of cell motility and alterations in the composition and organization of the ECM—a complex environment of proteoglycans and fibrous proteins essential for tissue homeostasis, signaling in response to chemical and biomechanical stimuli, and is often dysregulated under conditions such as cancer, fibrosis, and chronic wounds. Here, we demonstrate that basonuclin-2 (BNC2), a mesenchymal-expressed gene, that is, strongly associated with cancer and developmental defects across genome-wide association studies, is a novel regulator of ECM composition and degradation. We find that at endogenous levels, BNC2 controls the expression of specific collagens, matrix metalloproteases, and other matrisomal components in breast cancer cells, and in fibroblasts that are primarily responsible for the production and processing of the ECM within the tumour microenvironment. In so doing, BNC2 modulates the motile and invasive properties of cancers, which likely explains the association of high BNC2 expression with increasing cancer grade and poor patient prognosis.
Bevacizumab-Induced Hypertension in Glioblastoma Patients and Its Potential as a Modulator of Treatment Response Kaitlin G. Scheer, Lisa M. Ebert, Michael S. Samuel, Claudine S. Bonder, Guillermo A. Gomez Hypertension, 2023 Glioblastoma invasion is the primary mechanism responsible for its dismal prognosis and is the direct result of interactions between glioblastoma cells and the tumor vasculature. The dysregulated microvasculature in glioblastoma tumors and vessels co-opted from surrounding brain tissue support rapid tumor growth and are utilized as pathways for invasive cancer cells. Attempts to target the glioblastoma vasculature with antiangiogenic agents (eg, bevacizumab) have nonetheless shown limited and inconsistent efficacy, and the underlying causes of such heterogeneous responses remain unknown. Several studies have identified that patients with glioblastoma who develop hypertension following treatment with bevacizumab show significant improvement in overall survival compared with normotensive nonresponders. Here we review these findings and discuss the potential of hypertension as a biomarker for glioblastoma treatment response in individual patients and the role of hypertension as a modulator of interactions between tumor cells and cells in the perivascular niche. We suggest that a better understanding of the actions of bevacizumab and hypertension at the cellular level will contribute to developing more effective personalized therapies that address glioblastoma tumor cell invasion.
An interview with Michael Samuel - Tumour Microenvironment Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia Michael S. Samuel, Lena Van, Paul Trevorrow Cytoskeleton, 2023 We work on the tumour microenvironment: that is, everything in a tumour mass that is not the tumour cells themselves. My group is interested in how tumour cells hijack their environment to cause progression of the disease. There has been a lot of effort over many years, particularly in targeting immune cells within the microenvironment, but there are other aspects of the microenvironment that could also be targeted. We are working on how changes in the cytoskeleton in tumour cells influences the remodelling of the microenvironment, such that it becomes permissive for cancer growth. For instance, how changes in the cytoskeleton in tumour cells makes the extracellular matrix of the microenvironment stiffer and therefore easier for tumour-promoting cancer-associated fibroblasts to invade in or more difficult for tumour-suppressive immune cells to invade in. We think that some of these changes in the cytoskeleton permit the more deleterious aspects of the tumour microenvironment to flourish. The idea is, of course, that we can stop this from happening by targeting the cytoskeleton and the consequences of such cytoskeletal changes, to help patients.
Actomyosin-mediated cellular tension promotes Yap nuclear translocation and myocardial proliferation through α5 integrin signaling Xiaofei Li, Callie McLain, Michael S. Samuel, Michael F. Olson, Glenn L. Radice Development Cambridge, 2023 The cardiomyocyte phenotypic switch from a proliferative to terminally differentiated state results in the loss of regenerative potential of the mammalian heart shortly after birth. Nonmuscle myosin IIB (NM IIB)-mediated actomyosin contractility regulates cardiomyocyte cytokinesis in the embryonic heart, and NM IIB levels decline after birth, suggesting a role for cellular tension in the regulation of cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity in the postnatal heart. To investigate the role of actomyosin contractility in cardiomyocyte cell cycle arrest, we conditionally activated ROCK2 kinase domain (ROCK2:ER) in the murine postnatal heart. Here, we show that α5/β1 integrin and fibronectin matrix increase in response to actomyosin-mediated tension. Moreover, activation of ROCK2:ER promotes nuclear translocation of Yap, a mechanosensitive transcriptional co-activator, and enhances cardiomyocyte proliferation. Finally, we show that reduction of myocardial α5 integrin rescues the myocardial proliferation phenotype in ROCK2:ER hearts. These data demonstrate that cardiomyocytes respond to increased intracellular tension by altering their intercellular contacts in favor of cell–matrix interactions, leading to Yap nuclear translocation, thus uncovering a function for nonmuscle myosin contractility in promoting cardiomyocyte proliferation in the postnatal heart.
Compressive stress–driven Piezo1 activation and Rho-ROCK mechanotransduction promote tumor progression via epigenetic mechanical memory ST Boyle, D Gallego-Ortega, EJ Buckley, E Cognard, MZ Johan, ... Science Advances 12 (10), eaeb1271 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
ROCK2 inhibition has a dual role in reducing ECM remodelling and cell growth, while impairing migration and invasion DA Reed, AE Howell, N Kuepper, AMH Tran, A Magenau, DS Barkauskas, ... bioRxiv, 2025.07. 21.666015 , 2025 2025
Enhanced RHO‐ROCK signaling is associated with CRELD2 production and fibroblast recruitment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma A Pittar, EJ Buckley, ST Boyle, SJ Ibbetson, MS Samuel Cytoskeleton 81 (12), 864-871 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Accelerated Closure of Diabetic Wounds by Efficient Recruitment of Fibroblasts upon Inhibiting a 14-3-3/ROCK Regulatory Axis MZ Johan, NT Pyne, N Kolesnikoff, V Poltavets, Z Esmaeili, JM Woodcock, ... Journal of Investigative Dermatology 144 (11), 2562-2573. e4 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Abstract A073: Desmoglein-2 is a regulator of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression CB Ffrench, KK Myo Min, M DeNichilo, MP Cockshell, EL Dorward, ... Cancer Research 84 (17_Supplement_2), A073-A073 , 2024 2024
Temporally resolved proteomics identifies nidogen-2 as a cotarget in pancreatic cancer that modulates fibrosis and therapy response BA Pereira, S Ritchie, CR Chambers, KA Gordon, A Magenau, KJ Murphy, ... Science Advances 10 (27), eadl1197 , 2024 2024 Citations: 20
Actomyosin-Mediated Cellular Tension Drives Increased Tissue Stiffness and b-Catenin Activation to Induce Epidermal Hyperplasia and Tumor Growth (vol 19, pg 776, 2011) MS Samuel, JI Lopez, EJ McGhee, DR Croft, D Strachan, P Timpson, ... CANCER CELL 42 (2) , 2024 2024
An orthotopic syngeneic mouse model of bortezomib‐resistant multiple myeloma M Li, MK Bennett, J Toubia, VS Pope, MN Tea, S Tamang, MS Samuel, ... British Journal of Haematology 204 (2), 566-570 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Desmoglein-2 as a cancer modulator: friend or foe? KK Myo Min, CB Ffrench, BJ McClure, M Ortiz, EL Dorward, MS Samuel, ... Frontiers in Oncology 13, 1327478 , 2023 2023 Citations: 24
Basonuclin-2 regulates extracellular matrix production and degradation A Orang, BK Dredge, CY Liu, JM Bracken, CH Chen, L Sourdin, ... Life Science Alliance 6 (10) , 2023 2023 Citations: 15
Bevacizumab-Induced Hypertension in Glioblastoma Patients and Its Potential as a Modulator of Treatment Response KG Scheer, LM Ebert, MS Samuel, CS Bonder, GA Gomez Hypertension 80 (8), 1590-1597 , 2023 2023 Citations: 15
CSK MS Samuel, L Van, P Trevorrow, N Peng, F Nakamura, Q Tang, ... PERSPECTIVES 80 (3-4) , 2023 2023
An interview with Michael Samuel‐Tumour Microenvironment Laboratory, Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology and University of South Australia MS Samuel, L Van, P Trevorrow Cytoskeleton 80 (3-4), 58-59 , 2023 2023
Actomyosin-mediated cellular tension promotes Yap nuclear translocation and myocardial proliferation through α5 integrin signaling X Li, C McLain, MS Samuel, MF Olson, GL Radice Development 150 (2), dev201013 , 2023 2023 Citations: 21
ALTEN: A High‐Fidelity Primary Tissue‐Engineering Platform to Assess Cellular Responses Ex Vivo AMK Law, J Chen, Y Colino‐Sanguino, LR Fuente, G Fang, SM Grimes, ... Advanced Science 9 (21), 2103332 , 2022 2022 Citations: 10
Nano-Mechanical Analyses of Native and Cross-Linked Collagen I Matrices Reveal the Mechanical Complexity of Homogenous Samples BA Le Cerf, NT Pyne, J Kular, ST Boyle, DA Beattie, M Krasowska, ... Frontiers in Physics 10, 835038 , 2022 2022 Citations: 2
Differentiation of the tumor microenvironment: are CAFs the Organizer? M Kochetkova, MS Samuel Trends in Cell Biology 32 (4), 285-294 , 2022 2022 Citations: 74
Interrelationships between the extracellular matrix and the immune microenvironment that govern epithelial tumour progression N Kolesnikoff, CH Chen, MS Samuel Clinical Science 136 (5), 361-377 , 2022 2022 Citations: 61
Intravital imaging technology guides FAK-mediated priming in pancreatic cancer precision medicine according to Merlin status KJ Murphy, DA Reed, C Vennin, JRW Conway, M Nobis, JX Yin, ... Science advances 7 (40), eabh0363 , 2021 2021 Citations: 50
Optimizing metastatic-cascade-dependent Rac1 targeting in breast cancer: Guidance using optical window intravital FRET imaging A Floerchinger, KJ Murphy, SL Latham, SC Warren, AT McCulloch, ... Cell Reports 36 (11), 109689 , 2021 2021 Citations: 24
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Actomyosin-mediated cellular tension drives increased tissue stiffness and β-catenin activation to induce epidermal hyperplasia and tumor growth MS Samuel, JI Lopez, EJ McGhee, DR Croft, D Strachan, P Timpson, ... Cancer cell 19 (6), 776-791 , 2011 2011 Citations: 655
Targeting stromal remodeling and cancer stem cell plasticity overcomes chemoresistance in triple negative breast cancer AS Cazet, MN Hui, BL Elsworth, SZ Wu, D Roden, CL Chan, JN Skhinas, ... Nature communications 9 (1), 2897 , 2018 2018 Citations: 474
Inhibition of CXCR2 profoundly suppresses inflammation-driven and spontaneous tumorigenesis T Jamieson, M Clarke, CW Steele, MS Samuel, J Neumann, A Jung, ... The Journal of clinical investigation 122 (9), 3127-3144 , 2012 2012 Citations: 470
The role of the extracellular matrix and its molecular and cellular regulators in cancer cell plasticity V Poltavets, M Kochetkova, SM Pitson, MS Samuel Frontiers in oncology 8, 431 , 2018 2018 Citations: 456
Barley sex6 mutants lack starch synthase IIa activity and contain a starch with novel properties MK Morell, B Kosar‐Hashemi, M Cmiel, MS Samuel, P Chandler, ... The Plant Journal 34 (2), 173-185 , 2003 2003 Citations: 394
Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE) of oligosaccharides: efficiency of labelling and high-resolution separation MG O’Shea, MS Samuel, CM Konik, MK Morell Carbohydrate Research 307 (1-2), 1-12 , 1998 1998 Citations: 312
Transient tissue priming via ROCK inhibition uncouples pancreatic cancer progression, sensitivity to chemotherapy, and metastasis C Vennin, VT Chin, SC Warren, MC Lucas, D Herrmann, A Magenau, ... Science translational medicine 9 (384), eaai8504 , 2017 2017 Citations: 303
The major proteins of wheat endosperm starch granules S Rahman, B Kosar-Hashemi, MS Samuel, A Hill, DC Abbott, JH Skerritt, ... Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 22 (5), 793-803 , 1995 1995 Citations: 259
Differential expression and properties of starch branching enzyme isoforms in developing wheat endosperm MK Morell, A Blennow, B Kosar-Hashemi, MS Samuel Plant Physiology 113 (1), 201-208 , 1997 1997 Citations: 226
Glioblastoma heterogeneity and the tumour microenvironment: implications for preclinical research and development of new treatments SL Perrin, MS Samuel, B Koszyca, MP Brown, LM Ebert, M Oksdath, ... Biochemical Society transactions 47 (2), 625-638 , 2019 2019 Citations: 196
Analysis of starch structure using fluorophore‐assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis MK Morell, MS Samuel, MG O'Shea Electrophoresis 19 (15), 2603-2611 , 1998 1998 Citations: 172
Mechanisms of vitamin D3 metabolite repression of IgE-dependent mast cell activation KH Yip, N Kolesnikoff, C Yu, N Hauschild, H Taing, L Biggs, D Goltzman, ... Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 133 (5), 1356-1364. e14 , 2014 2014 Citations: 156
Role of the Escherichia coli glgX Gene in Glycogen Metabolism D Dauvillée, IS Kinderf, Z Li, B Kosar-Hashemi, MS Samuel, L Rampling, ... Journal of bacteriology 187 (4), 1465-1473 , 2005 2005 Citations: 154
ROCK signaling promotes collagen remodeling to facilitate invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor cell growth N Rath, JP Morton, L Julian, L Helbig, S Kadir, EJ McGhee, KI Anderson, ... EMBO molecular medicine 9 (2), 198-218 , 2017 2017 Citations: 148
A complex arrangement of genes at a starch branching enzyme I locus in the D-genome donor of wheat S Rahman, M Morell, R Appels, S Abrahams, D Abbott, M Samuel, ... Genome 40 (4), 465-474 , 1997 1997 Citations: 121
Genetic Dissection of Differential Signaling Threshold Requirements for the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway In Vivo M Buchert, D Athineos, HE Abud, ZD Burke, MC Faux, MS Samuel, ... PLoS genetics 6 (1), e1000816 , 2010 2010 Citations: 115
Genetic and biochemical evidence for the involvement of α-1, 4 glucanotransferases in amylopectin synthesis C Colleoni, D Dauvillée, G Mouille, A Buléon, D Gallant, B Bouchet, ... Plant Physiology 120 (4), 993-1004 , 1999 1999 Citations: 112
DNA-methylation-dependent alterations of claudin-4 expression in human bladder carcinoma S Boireau, M Buchert, MS Samuel, J Pannequin, JL Ryan, A Choquet, ... Carcinogenesis 28 (2), 246-258 , 2007 2007 Citations: 110
Biochemical Characterization of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii α-1, 4 Glucanotransferase Supports a Direct Function in Amylopectin Biosynthesis1 C Colleoni, D Dauvillée, G Mouille, M Morell, M Samuel, MC Slomiany, ... Plant physiology 120 (4), 1005-1014 , 1999 1999 Citations: 102
A RhoA-FRET biosensor mouse for intravital imaging in normal tissue homeostasis and disease contexts M Nobis, D Herrmann, SC Warren, S Kadir, W Leung, M Killen, ... Cell reports 21 (1), 274-288 , 2017 2017 Citations: 101