MUC1 and thyroid cancer: The downregulation of MUC1 in CPTC compared to TCPTC and subsequent potential inactivity of TGF-beta receptor pathways may induce the altered regulation of FN1 and TG. Considering that MUC1 upregulation and BRAF mutation presence correlate in thyroid cancer [17], our proposed mechanism provides a pathway for the BRAF mutation to drive PTC pathogenesis and progression.