To explore the role of ubiquitin-like proteins (ISG15, ATG8, FAT10, NEDD8, SUMO1, UFM1, URM1 and ATG12) in thyroid cancer, we integrated the datasets (GSE33630, GSE29265 and GSE76039) and analyzed 65 NT, 69 PTC and 40 ATC samples. Here, ATG12 is linked to thyroid gland carcinoma.