Integrin‐Piezo1 Axis Drives ECM Remodeling and Invasion of 3D Breast Epithelium (Adv. Sci. 5/2026)

3D Mechanotransduction The cover image shows mammary acini progressing from polarized spheres to invasive, tumor-like structures as their surrounding matrix stiffens. Using an in-situ stiffening hydrogel system, Vinay S Swaminathan and co-workers demonstrate that ECM stiffening around normal 3D mammary acini activates integrin-FAK-Piezo1 mechanosignaling, triggering basement-membrane rupture, fibronectin remodelling, and the emergence of coordinated, invasive cell collectives. More details can be found in the Research Article (DOI: 10.1002/advs.202509932).