GANT-61 inhibits pancreatic cancer stem cell growth in vitro and in NOD/SCID/IL2R gamma null mice xenograft

► Sonic hedgehog pathway regulates pancreatic cancer stem cell characteristics. ► Inhibition of Gli transcription by GANT-61 suppresses pancreatic cancer stem cell characteristics and tumor growth. ► GANT-61 inhibits pluripotency maintaining factors Nanog, Oct-4, Sox-2 and cMyc. ► GANT-61 can be used for the management of pancreatic cancer by targeting pancreatic cancer stem cells.