MiR-138-5p Inhibits the Proliferation of Gastric Cancer Cells by Targeting DEK [Retraction]

Zhang W, Liao K, Liu D. Cancer Manag Res. 2020;12:8137–8147.

The Editor and Publisher of Cancer Management and Research are retracting the published article. Concerns were raised regarding the duplication of cell apoptosis images from Figure 2D with the same images from Chen W, Lu Q, Li S, Zhang X, Xue X. microRNA-1298 inhibits the malignant behaviors of breast cancer cells via targeting ADAM9. Bioscience Reports. 2020;40(12):BSR20201215. https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20201215 and Zhong Y, Lin H, Li Q, Liu C, Zhong L. Downregulation of long non‑coding RNA GACAT1 suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis of NSCLC cells by sponging microRNA‑422a. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2021;47(2):659–667. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2020.4826. Specifically,

• Figure 2D, PI and Annexin V-FITC staining cell apoptosis images, have been duplicated with the same images from Figure 2D, PI and Annexin V-FITC staining cell apoptosis images, from Chen et al (2020) and Figure 2E, PI and Annexin V-FITC staining cell apoptosis images, from Zhong et al (2021).

The authors responded to our queries but were unable to provide an explanation for the duplicated images nor were they able to provide satisfactory original data from their study. As the findings could not be verified the Editor and Publisher made the decision to retract the article and the authors agreed with this decision.

We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and the COPE guidelines.

The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.