Int J Oncol 48: [Related article:] 2479-2487, 2016; DOI:
10.3892/ijo.2016.3483
Following the publication of the above paper, it was
drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the
first two lanes of the Actin blot in Fig. 1D looked strikingly
similar to the Actin panels in Fig. 2E for the MDA-MB-231 cell
line, In addition, the Actin panel in Fig. 4A (showing a time
series) looked very similar to the Actin panel in Fig. 4B (showing
different treatments). Upon analyzing the data independently in the
Editorial Office, it came to light that there was an overlapping
pair of data panels for the immunohistochemical data shown in Fig.
6C, such that data which were intended to show the results from
differently performed experiments appeared to have been derived
from the same original source, and data featured in Fig. 6D had
subsequently appeared in a paper published in the journal Tumor
Biology that was written by different authors at different
research institutes.
The authors were contacted by the Editorial Office
to offer an explanation for these possible anomalies in the
presentation of the data in this paper, although up to this time,
no response from them has been forthcoming. Owing to the fact that
the Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues
surrounding the scientific integrity of this paper, we are issuing
an Expression of Concern to notify readers of this potential
problem while the Editorial Office conitnues to investigate this
matter further.
