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BACKGROUND Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is a common malignant tumor in human and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Studies have shown that receptor type protein tyrosine phosphatase epsilon (PTPRE) is a key regulator of tumorigenesis in cancer progression, but its role in TC has not been revealed. OBJECTIVE Here, in this work, we explored the essential role of PTPRE in TC progression. METHODS The expression of PTPRE in TC clinical samples and cell lines was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT and cell cycle analysis. Cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were analyzed by wound healing, transwell, and immunofluorescent staining assays. AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathway related protein level was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS PTPRE was highly expressed in TC clinical samples and cell lines, especially anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). High level of PTPRE was associated with tumor size and TNM stage. Upregulated PTPRE promoted cell proliferation, and enhanced the migration, invasion and EMT of TC cells, whereas the knockdown of PTPRE suppressed these behaviors. Importantly, we confirmed that the AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways were activated by PTPRE, reflected by the enhanced protein level of phosphorylated AKT and ERK1/2. CONCLUSION Accordingly, we indicated that PTPRE plays an oncogenic role in TC progression via activating the AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathway. These findings indicated that modulation of PTPRE expression may as a potential strategy to interfere with the progression of TC.