Int J Mol Med 44: 700-708, 2020; DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4637

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the immunofluorescence staining data shown in Fig. 3C, and the migration and invasion assay data shown in Figs. 4C and 4D were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other research articles written by different authors at different research institutes that had either already been published, or were submitted for publication at around the same time, one of which has been retracted. In addition, the western blotting data shown for the E-cadherin and AKT protein bands in Fig. 5 were strikingly similar, albeit the bands had been flipped vertically.

Owing to the fact that contentious data in the above article had already been submitted for publication elsewhere prior to its submission to International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 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.