As these cues are largely absent in traditional 2D culture and because ILK is recognized as a critical driver of breast cancer cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis, we utilized a complex 3D hydrogel culture system to specifically investigate the therapeutic effect of an ILK inhibitor (ILKI) in a physiologically matrix relevant 3D breast tumor model at either the primary tumor site or a common metastatic site, the lung. The gene discussed is ILK; the disease is breast carcinoma.