Oncol Rep 35: [Related article:] 1680–1688, 2016; DOI:
10.3892/or.2015.4506
Following the publication of the above paper, it was
drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that there
appeared to be a number of anomalies in the presentation of data,
including both tabulated data and data in figures: First, a
discrepancy was noted between the numbers of males and females
reported in the Materials and methods section on p. 1681 (47
females and 47 males) and yet, in Table I, showing
clinicopathological characteristics of the patients, different
numbers of male and female patients were reported. Secondly, data
in Fig. 1 on p. 1683 had been misassembled: Experiments with COX-2
and 5-LOX are shown, but the panels for the ×40 and ×100 magnified
images are presented the wrong way around. Thirdly, regarding the
western blotting data, there were a couple of instances where it
appeared that different exposures of gels had been undertaken in an
attempt to show the same data for different experimental
conditions. Fourthly, western blotting data featured internally in
Fig. 4C on p. 1686 appeared to be strikingly similar, such that the
same data may have been used to show the results for differently
performed experiments. Fifthly, the data shown in the left-hand
columns for the scratch-wound assay experiments in Figs. 2A and 5A
were the same, even though different experiments were intended to
have been portrayed in these figures. Finally, after having
conducted an independent investigation of this paper in the
Editorial Office, the presence of overlapping sections was also
noted comparing the Transwell cell invasion assay data in Figs. 3
and 5.
Given the identification of these various issues in
the paper, the Editor of Oncology Reports has decided that
this article should be retracted from the Journal on account of the
uncertainties, and an overall lack of confidence, in the presented
data. 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.
