MYCN and neuroblastoma: As first result, we found that two prototypic NB cells (HTLA-230 and SH-SY5Y) differing for the amplification status of the prognostic factor MYCN (31), proliferated within our hydrogel spheres with a rate comparable with traditional 2D cultures, but with a spheroid morphology and a clustered organization, resembling the in vivo phenotype (59), revealing the suitability of the alginate-based model.