[Expression of Concern] Simvastatin potentiates doxorubicin activity against MCF‑7 breast cancer cells

Buranrat,Benjaporn; Suwannaloet,Wanwisa; Naowaboot,Jarinyaporn

doi:10.3892/ol.2026.15835

October-2026 Volume 32 Issue 4

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October-2026 Volume 32 Issue 4

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Expression of Concern Open Access

[Expression of Concern] Simvastatin potentiates doxorubicin activity against MCF‑7 breast cancer cells

Authors:
- Benjaporn Buranrat
- Wanwisa Suwannaloet
- Jarinyaporn Naowaboot
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Talad, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Warin chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani 34190, Thailand, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Preclinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Rangsit, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand

Copyright: © Buranrat et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
Article Number: 480
|
Published online on: August 27, 2026

https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2026.15835
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Abstract

Following the publication of the above article, a concerned author has drawn the authors’ attention to the fact that the caspase‑3 enzymatic activity reported in Fig. 3 on p. 6247, and the caspase‑3 western blotting data shown in Fig. 4 on p. 6248, were surprising results given the use of the MCF‑7 cell line in this study. These findings relating to changes in caspase‑3 activity or expression were not anticipated, since it has been demonstrated that MCF‑7 cells do not express caspase‑3 [for example, see the paper by Jänicke and colleagues entitled “MCF‑7 breast carcinoma cells do not express caspase‑3.” Breast Cancer Res. Treat., vol. 117.1 (2009); p. 219‑221]. The authors have been contacted by the Editorial Office to offer an explanation for these unexpected findings in this paper, and we are awaiting their response. 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 continues to investigate this matter further. [Oncology Letters 14: 6243‑6250, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6783]

Oncol Lett 14: [Related article:] 6243–6250, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6783

Following the publication of the above article, a concerned author has drawn the authors’ attention to the fact that the caspase-3 enzymatic activity reported in Fig. 3 on p. 6247, and the caspase-3 western blotting data shown in Fig. 4 on p. 6248, were surprising results given the use of the MCF-7 cell line in this study. These findings relating to changes in caspase-3 activity or expression were not anticipated, since it has been demonstrated that MCF-7 cells do not express caspase-3 [for example, see the paper by Jänicke and colleagues entitled “MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells do not express caspase-3.” Breast Cancer Res. Treat., vol. 117.1 (2009); p. 219–221].

The authors have been contacted by the Editorial Office to offer an explanation for these unexpected findings in this paper, and we are awaiting their response. 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 continues to investigate this matter further.

Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

[Expression of Concern] Simvastatin potentiates doxorubicin activity against MCF‑7 breast cancer cells

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Abstract

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