GLI1 is a downstream effector of SHH signalling pathway, we found that STIL silencing inhibited GLI1 expression, and STIL upregulation activated GLI1 expression, indicating that SHH signalling pathway was regulated by STIL expression alteration in BLCA cells (Fig. 3E–G; Additional file 1: Fig. S4F, H). This evidence concerns the gene SHH and bladder transitional cell carcinoma.