GLI1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Unfortunately, owing to the rapid development of acquired resistance, 5-FU is of limited benefit in treatment of patients with advanced HCC.14 Resistance to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in cancer cells is partly induced by activation of the Bcl2/BAX anti-apoptotic pathway.15 Therefore, we hypothesized that PCAF would sensitize HCC cells to 5-FU based chemotherapy through effects on the GLI1/Bcl-2/BAX axis.