CSPG4 and thyroid gland carcinoma: To further validate the above findings, we generated NG2-knockout coupled with BrafV600E-driven animal model of thyroid cancer (Thy-Ng2−/−; BrafCA) by crossing LSL-BRAFCA, Ng2flox/flox and peroxidase-Cre (Tpo-Cre) mice, and their wild-type littermates were used as controls (Thy-Ng2+/+; BrafCA) (Fig. 3A).