Although ERK and AKT inactivation was also noted in the presence of SHH inhibitors, these kinases were not significantly activated upon TNF-α stimulation of IEC-6 cells (in colon cancer cells HCT-116, ERK and AKT were significantly activated by TNF-α and significantly inactivated by SHH inhibitors; data not shown). Here, TNF is linked to malignant colon neoplasm.