Exp Ther Med 8:309–315, 2014; DOI: 10.3892/etm.2014.1708

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editors’ attention by a concerned reader that the western blotting data shown in Figs. 4B and 5A were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had either already been published elsewhere prior to the submission of this paper to Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, or were under consideration for publication at around the same time. Moreover, the Transwell migration assay data shown in Figs. 5B and 6 similarly appeared to have been published in several subsequently published articles. In view of the fact that certain of these data had already apparently been published previously, the Editor of Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 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.