Wei X, Yu L, Kong K. Onco Targets Ther. 2018;11:2205–2216.
The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. It came to the journals attention that the article contained instances of alleged image manipulation. Specifically:
Figure 3A panel 786-O miR-NC appears to be duplicated with panel A498 miR-NC which has been rotated clockwise by ~90°.
Figure 3B panel 786-O miR-NC appears to be duplicated with panel A498 miR-NC which has been rotated clockwise by ~45° and had some elements altered.
Figure 3B panel 786-O miR-488 appears to be duplicated with panel A498 miR-488 which has been rotated clockwise by ~90°.
The western blots for Figure 5A panel 786-O HMGN5 appear to be duplicated with Figure 5F panel 786-O N-cadherin.
The western blots for Figure 5A panel A498 HMGN5 appear to be duplicated with Figure 5F panel A498 N-cadherin.
We tried to contact the authors but despite several attempts received no response. The Editor has determined the findings of the study are no longer valid and requested for the article to be retracted.
Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction.
The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as “Retracted”.