**9. Conclusions**

In summary, recent advances in molecular mechanisms of thyroid cancer have improved cancer prognosis and detection. *PRKAR1A*, a regulator of PKA activity, is possibly involved in the molecular events that contribute to thyroid cancer. Identifying the genetic basis of *PRKAR1A*-associated thyroid tumors is important as it will provide better clinical management to these patients.

**Funding:** This work was supported by the project Z01-HD008920 (Principal Investigator: C.A.S.) of the Intramural Research Program of the *Eunice Kennedy Shriver* National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.

**Conflicts of Interest:** C.A.S. holds patent on the *PRKAR1A*, *PDE11A*, and *GPR101* genes and/or their function and his laboratory has received research funding from Pfizer, Inc. F.R.F. holds patent on the *GPR101* gene and/or its function. C.A.S. is receiving compensation by ELPEN, Inc. Neither

Pfizer, Inc. nor ELPEN, Inc. had any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. All authors declare no conflict of interest.
