The mean DFS time of the Gli-1 nuclear expression group was 250.8±38.7 months (95% CI 174.9–326.8 months) compared with 1734.8±212.2 months (95% CI 1318.8–2150.8 months) for the Gli-1-null or cytoplasmic expression or no residual tumour group (Figure 3; P=0.009); the mean OS times for these groups were 386.7±116.6 months (95% CI 158.1–615.3 months) and 1742.7±208.5 months (95% CI 1334.2–2151.3 months), respectively (Figure 4; P=0.001). Here, GLI1 is linked to neoplasm.