Among all the predefined KEGG pathways gene sets, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), cell cycle, P53 signaling pathway and JAK/STAT signaling pathway were found to be significantly associated with LINC00271 expression in the TCGA cohort (Fig. 3), suggesting that LINC00271 may be involved in PTC development and progression through the above cancer-associated signaling pathways. This evidence concerns the gene SOAT1 and cancer.