Int J Mol Med 41, [Related article:] 3485-3492, 2018; DOI:
10.3892/ijmm.2018.3531
Following the publication of the above paper, a
concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that several
figures contained data that bore striking similarities to data
published in other papers; notably, the western blot data shown in
Fig. 6 appeared to have been presented in other studies, notably in
Fig. 7B of another paper published around the same time and written
by different authors based at different research institutions [Li
P, Zhang Z, Zhang F, Zhou H and Sun W: Effects of 3-tetrazolyl
methyl-3-hydroxy-oxindole hybrid (THOH) on cell proliferation,
apoptosis, and G2/M cell cycle arrest occurs by targeting
platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGF-D) and the MEK/ERK signaling
pathway in human lung cell lines SK-LU-1, A549, and A-427. Med Sci
Monit 24: 4547-4554, 2018]. Furthermore, cellular images featured
in Fig. 2A and B of the above paper appeared in Fig. 2 of the
following paper, albeit the data were presented in a different
field of view: Yu L, Zhou G-Q and Li D-C: MiR-136 triggers
apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells by targeting AEG-1 and
BCL2. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 22: 7251-7256, 2018.
After having conducted an independent investigation
in the Editorial Office, the Editor of International Journal of
Molecular Medicine has determined that this article should be
retracted from the Journal on account of a lack of confidence
concerning the originality and the authenticity of the data. The
authors were asked for an explanation to account for these
concerns, but the Editorial Office never received any reply. The
Editor regrets any inconvenience that has been caused to the
readership of the Journal.
