A strong association between vinculin gene amplification and advanced prostate cancers has been documented, and knockdown of vinculin expression has been shown to reduce the growth of PC-3 cells, demonstrating that vinculin is a tumor-promoting protein.
It plays a critical role in linking the actin cytoskeleton to cell membrane adhesion complexes, thereby regulating cell shape, adhesion, and motility.
The level of vinculin expression can differ between early-stage and advanced tumors. Some studies suggest that vinculin loss may facilitate epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and distant metastasis.
– Conversely, certain contexts document elevated vinculin expression that may support the dynamic cellular processes required for migration or survival in a specific microenvironment.
Vinculin is generally linked to a tumor-suppressive function in the context of cancer by maintaining cell–cell and cell–ECM adhesions. Altered expression or mislocalization of vinculin can lead to a loss of cell adhesion, increased migration, and enhanced invasiveness, factors that correlate with poorer clinical prognosis.
(Will delete Record if Target field = "Delete") Home