We next analysed the mRNA expression levels in tumour and adjacent mucosa samples from 17 paired CRC patients, which also suggested a significantly positive correlation between GLI1 and the stemness markers DCLK1 and LGR5 with elevated expression of all three genes in tumour tissues (Figs. 1l, 6l–n). The gene discussed is LGR5; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.