However, both RET/PTC1TG;Patz1+/− and RET/PTC1TG;Patz1−/− mice developed a more aggressive thyroid cancer phenotype—characterized by higher Ki-67 expression, presence of ATCs, and increased incidence of solid variants of PTC—than that shown by RET/PTC1TG; Patz1+/+ compound mice. Here, MKI67 is linked to thyroid cancer.