Oncol Lett 12: [Related article:] 3926–3932, 2026; DOI:
10.3892/ol.2016.5204
Following the publication of the above paper, it was
drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the
‘miR-298 mimics’ data panel for OVCAR3 cells in Fig. 4B on p. 3929
was very similar to data that had already been published in a paper
in the journal PLoS One by different authors at different
research institutes. In addition, the scratch-wound assays shown in
Fig. 3 showed some evidence of image duplications; although not
entire duplications of the data panels, several overlapping
features comparing among various of the panels were identified.
Finally, upon performing an independent analysis of the data in
this paper in the Editorial Office, it also came to light that the
cellular images in Fig. 4 contained apparent anomalies, namely the
repeated patternings of small areas of cellular data within the
same figure panels.
Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the
above article had already apparently been published prior to its
submission to Oncology Letters, in addition to the
potentially anomalous presentation of data in Fig. 4, the Editor
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.
