3D tumor spheroids derived from LUAD, and breast cancer cell lines were grown in two culture conditions: i) sphere medium (SM), which mimics an environment rich in major nutrients (glucose and L-glutamine) and growth factors (Epidermal Growth Factor, EGF, and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, bFGF) and ii) RPMI or DMEM FBSlow, supplemented with only 2%FBS, mimicking a nutrient-restricted culture condition. The gene discussed is FGF2; the disease is breast cancer.