Down-Regulation of SREBP via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway Inhibits the Proliferation and Invasion of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells [Retraction]

Zhang B, Wu J, Guo P, et al. Onco Targets Ther. 2020;13: 8951–8961.

The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised regarding the alleged duplication of several images from Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. Specifically,

• Figure 2C, panel H1299, Sh-SREBP2 appears to have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 4B, panel H1299, Sh-SREBP1, E-Cadherin.
• Figure 3B, panel A549, P53 appears to have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 3B, panel H1299, Sh-SREBP2, PCNA.
• Figure 3B, panel A549, Sh-Control, P53 appears to have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 3B, panel H1299, Sh-SREBP1, PCNA.
• Figure 3B, panel A549, PCNA appears to have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 4B, panel A549, Sh-SREBP1, N-Cadherin.
• Figure 3B, panel A549, Sh-Control, PCNA appears to have been duplicated with the same image from Figure 4B, panel A549, Sh-SREBP2, N-Cadherin.
• Figure 3B, panel H1299, P53 appears to have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 4B, panel A549, Sh-Control, N-Cadherin.
• Figure 3B, panel H1299, Sh-Control, P53 appears to have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 4B, panel A549, N-Cadherin.
• Figure 3B, panel H1299, Sh-SREBP2, P53 appears to have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 3B, panel H1299, PCNA.
• Figure 3E, panel A549, Sh-SREBP2 appears to have been duplicated with the same image from Figure 3E, panel H1299, Sh-SREBP1.
• Figure 4D, panel A549a, Sh-SREBP2 appears to have been duplicated with the same image from Figure 4D, panel H1299b, NC and Figure 4D, panel H1299b, Sh-Control.
• Figure 4D, panel H1299a, Sh-SREBP1 appears to have been duplicated with the same image from Figure 4D, H1299a, Sh-SREBP2, which has been flipped.
• Figure 5, A549, P-mTOR appears to have been duplicated with the same image from Figure 5, A549, SREBP1.
• Figure 5, A549, P-P13K appears to have been duplicated with the same image from Figure 5, A549, P-AKT.

The authors responded to our queries but were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the duplicated images, nor were they able to provide adequate original data that could adequately verify the findings. The Editor requested to retract the article and the authors were notified of this.

We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions.

The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.