The results corroborate previous studies reporting similar downregulation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways when cells are grown as 3D spheroids.47 However, AKT1, involved in several signaling pathways regulating cell proliferation, survival and metabolism was upregulated in the hydrogel and PTEN, known to function as a tumor suppressor and promote apoptosis had lower expression levels on both the hydrogel platforms (Fig. S2(A)†). Here, PTEN is linked to neoplasm.