Formation and growth of multicellular spheroids in media containing low concentrations of agarose

Human melanoma HMV-1 cells formed efficiently multicellular spheroids in media containing low concentrations (0.001-0.01%) of agarose (LCAM). In addition, the spheroids were prevented from deformation without apparent delay of the growth rate. On the other hand, spheroid formation was inhibited markedly by LCAM in the case of murine melanoma B16 cells. Also, LCAM could not prevent the B16 spheroids from deformation. These results indicate that LCAM acts differently depending on the cell types used for spheroid formation.