Int J Oncol 40: [Related article:] 711-720, 2012; DOI:
10.3892/ijo.2011.1270
Following the publication of the above article, a
concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that certain of the
western blot assay data shown in Fig. 4G on p. 717 were strikingly
similar to data that had appeared in a paper published previously
in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, which had been
written by different authors at different research institutes.
Moreover, there appeared to be as many as five sets of duplicated
protein bands in Fig. 4B and C, including the appearance of
apparently the same protein band in different orientations in Fig.
4C in one case, and certain data shown in Fig. 4B and G had
apparently been re-used in these figure parts.
After having performed an independent assessment of
these issues in the Editorial Office, these concerns of the reader
were found to have been validated; therefore, the Editor of
International Journal of Oncology has decided that this
paper should be retracted from the publication. After having been
in contact with the authors, they accepted the decision to retract
the paper. The corresponding author, Claudio Festuccia, takes full
responsibility for the raised concerns and clarifies that the other
co-authors were not directly involved in the preparation of the
submitted figures. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any
inconvenience caused.
