Long non-coding RNA OR3A4 facilitates cell proliferation and migration in colorectal cancer through the Wnt/Œ≤-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: J Wang
X-Y Yu
M-Y Hu
W Sun
X-F Hao
G-R Chen
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2020)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; long noncoding RNAs; lncRNA OR3A4; tumorigenesis; development
Affiliations: Department of Abdominal Surgery, Linyi Cancer Hospital, Linyi, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most ordinary cancers worldwide. Recently, researches have suggested the important role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of tumorigenesis. This study aims to identify how lncRNA OR3A4 functions in the development of CRC. Patients and methods: OR3A4 expressions in 54 paired CRC tissues and CRC cell lines were detected by Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Moreover, the in vitro functions of OR3A4 in CRC cells were identified by performing proliferation assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay. Besides, the underlying mechanism of OR3A4 in CRC development was explored through Western blot and RT-qPCR. Results: OR3A4 expression was significantly higher in CRC tissues than adjacent normal ones. Cell proliferation, migration, and CRC were inhibited after OR3A4 was knocked down in vitro, which were promoted after upregulation of OR3A4. Moreover, OR3A4 could activate the Wnt/Œ≤-catenin pathway, thus influencing phenotypes of CRC cells. Conclusions: OR3A4 enhances CRC cell proliferation and migration by activating the Wnt/Œ≤-catenin signaling pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of a set of 121 papers that all contain images from the same library of about 100 photos and plots. This is unexpected, because each paper has different authors and different affiliations, with little to no overlap, and describes different cancer types and molecules. It would be very hard to explain how authors from different labs would all obtain the same photo. Therefore, the papers might have all be derived from the same source, such as a paper mill that sells ready-to-be-published papers. This  Stock Photo paper set has been described in more detail on my blog post, https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 07 05 the-stock-photo-paper-mill and in a Wall Street Journal article by Eva Xiao (currently behind a paywall): https: www.wsj.com articles chinese-research-papers-raise-doubts-fueling-global-questions-about-scientific-integrity-11593939600 The vast majority (113 121) of the papers were published in the same journal, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (ERMPS). A link to the full set of papers can be found here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 172RWS18w1lTNJ9Nnj80fuXXTqTm4fGkoK0sdYyvKE3g edit?usp=sharing All papers have been reported to the journal editors on July 2, 2020. , 
 Retracted [April 2021] .  Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cLong non-coding RNA OR3A4 facilitates cell proliferation and migration in colorectal cancer through the Wnt u03b2-catenin signaling pathway, by W. Sun, G.-R. Chen, J. Wang, X.-Y. Yu, X.-F. Hao, M.-Y. Hu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (10): 5360-5366u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_202005_21319u2013PMID: 32495870u201d has been withdrawn.  The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. ,