Oncol Rep 24: [Related article:] 1653–1659, 2010; DOI:
10.3892/or_00001030
Subsequently to the publication of the above article,
a concerned reader drew the Editor's attention to the fact that
certain of the protein bands shown in lanes 1, 3 and 4 for the
Smad3 experiments for the western blots in Fig. 5A on p. 1657 were
strikingly similar; furthermore, the protein bands shown in lanes 2
and 5 also appeared to be highly similar aside from a difference in
the intensity of the shading (in conjunction with probable breaks
in the continuity of the gel). In addition, the backgrounds of
lanes 3 and 4 for the pSmad3 data shown in Fig. 5C were markedly
similar in appearance.
Having assessed these data independently in the
Editorial Office, the concerns of the reader were judged to have
been well founded, and the striking similarities in the appearance
of the abovementioned protein bands/gel backgrounds could not
easily be attributed to coincidence. Therefore, in view of the
probable anomalies that were identified, the Editor of Oncology
Reports has decided that this paper should be retracted from
the Journal on account of a lack of confidence in the 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 for any inconvenience caused.
