PTEN and neoplasm: Further studies revealed that collagen 1 and lysyl-oxidase (LOX, a collagen fiber crosslinker) expressions are associated with less differentiated TC types and a poor overall survival rate; these alterations are the result of BRAF activation and/or PTEN loss, which promote the formation of a fibrotic tumor stroma that is rich in CAFs and collagen 1, facilitating tumor progression [117,132].