Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of SHH-induced transcripts (Gli1, Gli2, Gli3 and Ptch1) in tumor tissue isolated from male or female Ptch1LacZ/+ and Math1Cre/+Stat3LoxP/LoxPPtch1LacZ/+ mice revealed significant increases in the expression of Gli1 and Gli2 transcripts in female Math1Cre/+Stat3LoxP/LoxPPtch1LacZ/+ tumors compared to female Ptch1LacZ/+ controls (Figure 4C), suggesting that Stat3 represses SHH signaling in female tumors. Here, SHH is linked to neoplasm.