Exp Ther Med 15:[Related article:] 1304–1313, 2018; DOI:
10.3892/etm.2017.5552
Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn
to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the β-actin
western blots shown in Fig. 5D on p. 1310 were strikingly similar
to data that appeared subsequently in the journal Translational
Cancer Research in an article written by different authors at
different research institutes, although the western bands in
question in the latter paper were featured adjacent to an
additional lane of data in the western blot. Moreover, certain of
the histological data shown in Fig. 4C similarly appeared in a
paper published subsequently in the journal Drug Design
Development and Therapy, also written by different authors at
different research institutes.
Given that the contentious data were published first
in the above article, the authors were offered the opportunity to
present their original (uncropped) data concerning the β-actin
western blots in Fig. 5D; however, the authors weren't able
to provide these original blots. Therefore, the Editor of
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine has decided that this
paper should be retracted from the Journal on account of
uncertainty concerning the original source of these published data.
After contacting the authors, they accepted the decision to retract
the paper. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any
inconvenience caused.
