Using this model, we found that both cytoplasmically-targeted NES-GFP-LIMK1 and nuclearly-targeted NLS-GFP-LIMK1 increased phosphorylation of cofilin, FAK, paxillin, AKT and Erk1/2, both increased cellular invasion, and both enhanced xenograft tumor growth in nude mice. The gene discussed is LIMK1; the disease is neoplasm.