<p>Long Noncoding RNA <em>ZFPM2-AS1</em> Enhances the Malignancy of Cervical Cancer by Functioning as a Molecular Sponge of microRNA-511-3p and Consequently Increasing FGFR2 Expression</p>
Authors: Peihai Zhang
Jun Dai
Peishu Liu
Rujia Wei
Journal: Cancer Management and Research (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1; cervical cancer therapy; fibroblast growth factor receptor 2; microRNA-511-3p.
Affiliations: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, People's Republic of China., School of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252004, People's Republic of China., Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao, Shandong 266035, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Purpose: A long noncoding RNA called ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) has been verified as a key modulator in multiple human cancer types. Nonetheless, the expression and functions of ZFPM2-AS1 in cervical cancer remain poorly understood. Therefore, our purpose was to characterize the expression pattern, clinical value, and detailed roles of ZFPM2-AS1 in cervical cancer. Methods: Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR was carried out to measure ZFPM2-AS1 expression in cervical cancer. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and a tumor xenograft experiment were conducted to determine the influence of ZFPM2-AS1 on cervical cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion in vitro and on tumor growth in vivo, respectively. Results: ZFPM2-AS1 was found to be aberrantly upregulated in cervical cancer, and its upregulation was associated with unfavorable values of clinical parameters. A ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown significantly reduced cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased apoptosis in vitro. The ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown decelerated tumor growth of cervical cancer cells in vivo. Molecular investigation indicated that ZFPM2-AS1 acts as a molecular sponge of microRNA-511-3p (miR-511-3p) in cervical cancer cells. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) mRNA was validated as a direct target of miR-511-3p in cervical cancer, and its expression was positively modulated by ZFPM2-AS1. The effects of the ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown on malignant characteristics of cervical cancer cells were greatly attenuated by miR-511-3p inhibition. Conclusion: ZFPM2-AS1 promotes cervical cancer progression through upregulation of miR-511-3p-FGFR2 axis output, thereby pointing to possible diagnostics and therapeutics based on the ZFPM2-AS1-miR-511-3p-FGFR2 pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 There are several serious problems with this publication: Figure 2F: A micrographs has been duplicated and presented as something else. Figure 2C and 4B: A flow cytometry dot plot in Figure 2C (si-NC, HeLa) share too many similarities with a dot plot in Figure 4B (miR-NC, SiHa). Figure 6H: A flow cytometry dot plot (si-NC, siHa) shares too many similarities with another dot plot (treated, far right). All these problemes are quite obvious and should be easy to detect. According to the peer-reviewing information, they checked the manuscript for plagiarism, but apparently not for duplication of data.  , 
 2020 retraction. https: www.dovepress.com retraction-long-noncoding-rna-zfpm2-as1-enhances-the-malignancy-of-cer-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR Expression [Retraction] Abstract Metrics Get Permission Cite this article Authors Dai J, Wei R, Zhang P, Liu P Received 25 March 2020 Accepted for publication 25 March 2020 Published 31 March 2020 Volume 2020:12 Pages 2367u20142368 DOI https: doi.org 10.2147 CMAR.S255464 Dai J, Wei R, Zhang P, Liu P. Long noncoding RNA ZFPM2-AS1 enhances the malignancy of cervical cancer by functioning as a molecular sponge of microRNA-511-3p and consequently increasing FGFR2 expression. Cancer Manag Res. 2020;12:567u2013 580. The Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Cancer Management and Research wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised that the published article may contain examples of image manipulation, which included the duplication of Figure 2F, column si-NC. The authors provided replacement images for Figure 2F but when asked to verify other data they were unable to provide any raw data relating to the Western blots corresponding to Figures 5D, 6B, 6F, and 7E. As the authors were unable to provide the original raw data the editor agreed the findings of the study were no longer valid and advised 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 u201cRetractedu201d. , 
 Fig 6H:  The red-boxed panel had previously appeared in Figs 2C, 4C, 5C of [Li et al (2019)] .   --------------------------------------------------- Panels marked with bright pink and mauve boxes had already appeared in Figs 2D, 6D of [Li You (2018)] (and elsewhere).   In context:  , 
 Dear professor , Thanks for your concerns. l am out of home now,l will reply you soon. best regards , , 
 Two panels from different papers appear to be the same.  Right-hand panel is from Fig 4B. Left-hand panel is from Figs 2C, 5b, 6c of [Guo et al (2020)] . Here in context:   , 
 - *[left]* Fig 2D of  Long noncoding RNA NNT-AS1 enhances the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer by acting as a competing endogenous RNA on microRNA-496 thereby increasing HMGB1 expression ([Wu et al 2019] ). - *[right]* **Fig 2F**.  ,