3D culture of mammary epithelial cells under stiff ECM conditions increases the amount and activation of vinculin at focal adhesions, along with enhancing the recruitment of Aktp473 and FAKp397 and the formation of stable vinculin–talin–actin scaffolding complexes supporting phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling and tumour invasion [49]. Here, VCL is linked to neoplasm.