Silencing GLI1 in both Vec- and PGC7-transfected 97H and MIHA cells or in parental PLC-8024 cells remarkably suppressed MYCN expression (Fig. 4f, g and Supplementary Fig. 4b), verifying MYCN as a downstream target gene of GLI1 in HCC. Here, DPPA3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.