Summary
This application note shows how a defined 5 kPa LunaX™ ECM model detects IGF-I:IGFBP-3:vitronectin-driven growth in SK-MEL-28 melanoma spheroids. LunaX produced a clear dose-dependent response over 14 days and spheroids up to two-fold larger than Matrigel® under equivalent stimulation.
What you’ll learn
- How to model SK-MEL-28 melanoma spheroid growth in a defined 5 kPa tumour-like ECM.
- How the IGF-I:IGFBP-3:vitronectin complex influences melanoma growth through growth factor–ECM crosstalk.
- How melanoma spheroids respond across TRI 30, TRI 100 and TRI 300 stimulation conditions.
- Why LunaX and Matrigel produce different biological signal windows in IGF–ECM studies.
- How this 3D model can support mechanistic studies and preclinical screening of therapeutics targeting the IGF axis.
Key findings
- SK-MEL-28 cells formed more robust, well-defined baseline spheroids in LunaX than in Matrigel under serum-reduced conditions.
- LunaX cultures showed a clear dose-dependent increase in spheroid area from TRI 30 to TRI 300.
- Spheroid growth was significantly greater at TRI 100 and TRI 300 than in the 2% FCS control (p < 0.0001).
- Matrigel cultures showed minimal spheroid growth and no clear dose-dependent response across the same stimulation range.
- At equivalent IGF-I:IGFBP-3:vitronectin stimulation, LunaX spheroids were up to two-fold larger than Matrigel counterparts, providing a wider assay signal window.
