In a gene expression analysis by microarray, thymic carcinomas were found to upregulate two anti-apoptotic genes (BIRC3 and SCYA20), two pro-apoptotic genes (PMAIP1 and MYC), and downregulate the pro-apoptotic gene MTCH2 when compared to B3 thymomas. Here, BIRC3 is linked to thymic carcinoma.