To explore the effects of GSN on YTS cell proliferation and colony formation, CCK-8 and colony formation assays were performed. Our results from CCK-8 assay revealed that cell proliferation of the YTS-GSN cells was significantly suppressed, compared with that of YTS-Con cells (Fig. 2A). In addition, the results of colony formation assay demonstrated that GSN resulted in a decrease in the clonogenic survival of YTS-GSN cells, compared with YTS-Con cells (Fig. 2B). These results suggested that GSN had inhibitory effects on YTS cell proliferation. Fig. 2.GSN overexpression inhibits proliferation, colony formation and invasion of YTS cells and promotes apoptosis. (A) CCK-8 assays revealed that GSN overexpression inhibited YTS cell proliferation. (B) Representative photomicrographs of colony formation assay of YTS cells transfected with lenti-Con and lenti-GSN plasmids for 12 days are shown. Statistical analysis of colony formation assay showed that GSN overexpression caused a decrease in the clonogenic survival of YTS cells compared with YTS-Con cells. (C) Representative photomicrographs of flow cytometric analysis are shown. Statistical analysis of flow cytometric analysis showed that GSN overexpression significantly increased the apoptosis rate in YTS cells at 48 h. The apoptosis rate was the sum of the late apoptosis in the first quadrant and the early apoptosis in the fourth quadrant. (D) Representative photomicrographs of transwell invasion assay in cells at 48 h. Statistical analysis showed that GSN obviously suppressed YTS cell invasion. **P<0.01.