GANT61 is a small-molecule inhibitor of glioma-associated oncogene 1 (GLI1)- and GLI2-mediated transcription at the nuclear level that exerts its effect by preventing DNA binding. It has been demonstrated to induce cell death against Ewing's sarcoma family tumor (ESFT) cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. The most sensitive cell line was SK-N-LO, which expresses the EWS-FLI1 fusion gene. SK-N-LO cells treated with GANT61 showed cellular and nuclear morphological changes, including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation, in a concentration-dependent manner, as visualized by Hoechst 33342 staining. Furthermore, annexin V-propidium iodide (PI) double-staining revealed a significant increase in the number of late apoptotic cells. GANT61 induced a significant decrease in the proportion of cells in the S phase. Significant decrease of the protein levels of GLI2, survivin, cyclin A and claspin, and significant increase of p21 expression was also observed in the cells treated with GANT61. Moreover, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage was observed, but no cleavage of caspase-3 or -7, or any change in the expressions of Bcl-2 or p53 were observed. These findings suggest that GANT61 induces cell death of SK-N-LO cells in a caspase-independent manner, by inhibiting DNA replication in the S phase.

Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is aberrantly reactivated in pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). The objectives of this study were to examine the molecular mechanisms by which GANT-61 (Gli transcription factor inhibitor) regulates stem cell characteristics and tumor growth. Effects of GANT-61 on CSC's viability, spheroid formation, apoptosis, DNA-binding and transcriptional activities, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were measured. Humanized NOD/SCID/IL2R gamma(null) mice were used to examine the effects of GANT-61 on CSC's tumor growth. GANT-61 inhibited cell viability, spheroid formation, and Gli-DNA binding and transcriptional activities, and induced apoptosis by activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of Poly-ADP ribose Polymerase (PARP). GANT-61 increased the expression of TRAIL-R1/DR4, TRAIL-R2/DR5 and Fas, and decreased expression of PDGFRα and Bcl-2. GANT-61 also suppressed EMT by up-regulating E-cadherin and inhibiting N-cadherin and transcription factors Snail, Slug and Zeb1. In addition, GANT-61 inhibited pluripotency maintaining factors Nanog, Oct4, Sox-2 and cMyc. Suppression of both Gli1 plus Gli2 by shRNA mimicked the changes in cell viability, spheroid formation, apoptosis and gene expression observed in GANT-61-treated pancreatic CSCs. Furthermore, GANT-61 inhibited CSC tumor growth which was associated with up-regulation of DR4 and DR5 expression, and suppression of Gli1, Gli2, Bcl-2, CCND2 and Zeb1 expression in tumor tissues derived from NOD/SCID IL2Rγ null mice. Our data highlight the importance of Shh pathway for self-renewal and metastasis of pancreatic CSCs, and also suggest Gli as a therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer in eliminating CSCs.

Aberrant reactivation of Gli signaling has been described in a wide variety of human cancers and rapamycin can down-regulate Gli pathway in some solid tumors. In this study, we attempt to define the cytotoxic effect of Gli inhibitor on AML cells. And the regulation action of rapamycin on Gli in AML cells also has been assessed. Gli inhibitor GANT61 caused growth arrest and apoptosis in AML cells. Rapamycin decreased not only the Gli protein and mRNA expressions but also expression of the Gli-luciferase reporter in AML cells. Synergism effect between GANT61 and rapamycin was found in Kasumi-1, HL-60 and U937 cell lines. The results suggest that aberrant Gli activation is a feature of some myeloid leukemic cells and Gli activiation can be down-regulated by rapamycin.