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Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
Published on: March 30, 2019
[Retracted] MicroRNA‑520a attenuates proliferation of Raji cells through inhibition of AKT1/NF‑κB and PERK/eIF2α
Xiaojuan Wang1, Pei Wang2, Yan Zhu2
1Department of Hematology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editors' attention by a concerned reader that a pair of the lanes featured in the western blot gel for Fig. 3B on p. 1705 were strikingly similar, suggesting that the same data may have been imported into the figure to represent data that were intended to show the results from differently performed experiments. In addition, the western data shown in Fig. 6 on p. 1706 for the GRP78 and the p‑PERK proteins also appeared to be strikingly similar, such that the same data may have also been inserted into this figure to show the results from different experiments. Finally, certain of the data in this paper were shown to have appeared in a previous publication that featured some of the same authors, albeit in different form [Zhang L, Huang D, Wang Q, Shen D, Wang Y, Chen B, Zhang J and Gai L: MiR‑132 inhibits expression of SIRT1 and induces pro‑inflammatory processes of vascular endothelial inflammation through blockade of the SREBP‑1c metabolic pathway. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 8: 303‑311, 2014]. Owing to the fact that some of the contentious data in the above article had already been published elsewhere prior to its submission to Oncology Reports, and because of an overall lack of confidence in the presented data, 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. [Oncology Reports 36: 1702‑1708, 2016; DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4975].
Insights
This paper is retracted due to concerns about duplicated western blot data and prior publication of results. The editors lost confidence in the presented findings.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research integrity
- Molecular biology techniques
- Scientific publishing ethics
Context:
- Concerns raised regarding data duplication in Western blot figures.
- Potential reuse of experimental data across different figures.
- Identified overlap with previously published work by some authors.
Purpose:
- To address allegations of scientific misconduct.
- To investigate data integrity and reproducibility.
- To maintain the standards of scientific literature.
Summary:
- Retraction of Oncology Reports 36: 1702–1708 due to duplicated Western blot data (Fig. 3B, Fig. 6).
- Concerns include similar data representing different experiments and overlap with prior publications.
- Lack of author response led to a loss of confidence in the study's findings.
Impact:
- Upholds scientific rigor and ethical standards in publishing.
- Ensures the reliability of published research findings.
- Alerts the scientific community to data integrity issues.
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