RET/PTC rearrangements were also associated with high CD44 expression while OPN-mediated cell dissemination was decreased by the inhibition of CD44 [69], suggesting that OPN may have a complementary role in the progression of papillary thyroid cancer through the interaction with its known receptor CD44, which is related to tumor-progression features [61]. Here, RET is linked to thyroid gland papillary carcinoma.