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Author Spotlight: Unveiling Transmembrane Protein Family-Related Markers in Gastric Cancer and Implications for Targeted Therapies
Published on: September 15, 2023
[Retracted] Intestinal trefoil factor activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to protect gastric mucosal epithelium
Zhaorui Sun1, Hongmei Liu1, Zhizhou Yang1
1Department of Emergency, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Following the publication of the above paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that, for the Transwell migration assay experiments shown in Fig. 1C and 3C, three sets of data panels were found to contain overlapping sections of data (including four panels across the figure parts that contained the same overlapping data). A further pair of overlapping data panels were identified for the immunofluorescence experiments shown in Fig. 5. Upon receiving notification of this issue, the authors requested a corrigendum and submitted corrected versions of Figs. 1, 3 and 5. However, upon performing an independent analysis of the data in this paper in the Editorial Office, it was also noted that certain of the data in these figures had appeared subsequently in a pair of more recent publications by the same research group, and moreover, one of these images had been incorporated into one of the three revised figures submitted for the corrigendum. Owing to the large number of duplications of data identified in the published paper, and the apparent mislabelling of the authors' own data files, the Editor of International Journal of Oncology has decided that it should be retracted from the Journal on account of a lack of confidence in the presented data. After contacting the authors, they accepted the decision to retract the paper. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [International Journal of Oncology 45: 1123-1132, 2014; DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2014.2527].
Insights
This paper has been retracted due to significant data duplication issues identified in migration and immunofluorescence assays. Concerns about data integrity led to the retraction of the published findings.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Scientific Publishing Ethics
Background:
- Concerns were raised regarding data duplication in Transwell migration assays (Figs. 1C, 3C) and immunofluorescence experiments (Fig. 5).
- Identified overlapping data panels across multiple figures and within revised submissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address concerns of data integrity and duplication in a published study.
- To investigate the validity of presented experimental data.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental figures, including Transwell migration assays and immunofluorescence.
- Independent data analysis by the Editorial Office.
- Comparison of published data with subsequent publications by the same research group.
Main Results:
- Significant duplication of data panels was found in multiple figures.
- Overlapping data was present in original figures and revised submissions.
- Identical images appeared in subsequent publications, raising further concerns.
Conclusions:
- The study is retracted from the International Journal of Oncology due to a lack of confidence in the presented data.
- Data duplication and potential mislabelling of files led to the retraction decision.
- The authors accepted the retraction decision after review.
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