TFRC and thyroid cancer: Based on our previous studies which showed an increased transferrin expression by PTC cells in comparison with thyroid cells from benign tissues [25], we performed PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical studies on fresh, paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues, as well as in thyroid cell lines, to assess whether TfR1/CD71, the receptor for transferrin, is upregulated in malignant thyroid tumors [91].