A RET/PTC rearrangement was also found in 41% of non-neoplastic thyroiditis tissues, contralateral to tumours harbouring either RET/PTC or BRAF mutations.     ///    The strong association between RET/PTC1 and thyroiditis points to a critical role of this oncoprotein in the modulation of the autoimmune response.     ///    "The two groups did not show significant differences in clinical and prognostic features, whereas they harboured a significantly different genetic background (P = 0.001), with RET/PTC1 being more represented in PTCs associated with autoimmunity, and BRAF(V600E) in patients with PTC alone. "    ///    "The expression of genes encoding CCL20, CXCL8 and l-selectin was significantly higher in PTC specimens (either with RET/PTC, BRAF(V600E) or unknown genetic lesion) compared with normal thyroid samples. "