Oncol Rep 34: [Related article:] 1787–1794, 2015; DOI:
10.3892/or.2015.4143
Following the publication of this paper, it was
drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that, for the
Transwell migration and invasion assay experiments shown in Fig. 3C
and D on p. 1791, two pairs of the data panels appeared to be
overlapping, suggesting that the same data may have been used in
this figure to represent data that were intended to show the
results from differently performed experiments. Although the
authors responded to the original emailed request from the
Editorial Office concerning these data and repeated the experiments
shown in this figure, upon performing an independent analysis of
the original (published) figures in the office, it came to light
that Figs. 1 and 4 also contained probable anomalies. In Fig. 1C
and D, there were cells/small areas of the images located in the
bottom left hand corners of the images that were strikingly
similar, to the extent that this would have been difficult to
attribute to coincidence. Furthermore, in the case of Fig. 4, the
gel slices in Fig. 4B showed evidence of possible
cutting-and-splicing events.
Owing to the fact that these probable anomalies were
also identified that could have affected the interpretation of two
additional figures in the published article, the Editor of
Oncology Reports has decided that this paper should be
retracted from the Journal due to a 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 satisfactory reply. The Editor apologizes to the
readership for any inconvenience caused.
