Exp Ther Med 18: [Related article:] 1021–1028, 2019; DOI:
10.3892/etm.2019.7643
Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn
to the Editor’s attention by a concerned reader that flow
cytometric (FCM) assay data featured in Fig. 5B were strikingly
similar to FCM data which were ultimately published in a number of
other papers in different journals that were written by different
authors at different research institutes, a few of which had
already been submitted for publication prior to the receipt of this
article at Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. In
addition, the western blot data shown in Fig. 3E were strikingly
similar to data which also appeared in a paper written by different
authors at different research institutes, albeit these very
similar-looking data in that paper were shown in the horizontally
reversed orientation.
Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the
above article were found to be strikingly similar to data that have
been published elsewhere in the scientific literature, the Editor
of Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine has decided that
this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were
asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the
Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to
the readership for any inconvenience caused.
