SPP1 and thyroid tumor: HMGA1b, which upregulated SPP1 expression and NF-κB activity [78], is further reported to be activated by TGFβ1 in a PI3K/AKT and MAPK-dependent manner and to play an important role in positively modulating thyroid tumor cell invasion and migration, in addition to upregulating the expression of metalloproteinases and decreasing E-cadherin levels [95].