MicroRNA-338-3p suppresses tumor growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Zhenxiang Pan
Zhihong Li
Xinyu Li
Guiyun Yang
Journal: Molecular Medicine Reports (2015)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: miR-338-3p; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; tumor suppressor; tumorigenesis; metastasis
Affiliations: Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, P.R. China., Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Accumulating evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and are crucial in tumorigenesis, among which miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p has been examined to be downregulated in patients with ESCC. However, the role of miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p in ESCC remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the role of miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p on the growth and survival of an ESCC cell line was determined with several in vitro approaches and in nude mouse models. It was determined that miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p expression was frequently downregulated in ESCC tissue compared with corresponding adjacent non‚Äëtumor tissue, and that its expression was significantly correlated with tumor stage and metastasis. Overexpression of miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p in ESCC cells suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, and induced cell arrest at the G0/G1 stage and cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, it was demonstrated that overexpression of miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p significantly suppresses tumor growth of xenograft tumors in mice (P&lt;0.05). These findings revealed that miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p may act as a tumor suppressor in ESCC, and its dysregulation may be involved in the initiation and development of human ESCC. In addition, it was suggested that miR‚Ä?38‚Ä?p may be a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of ESCC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 4C.  Western blot analysis of MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression after transfected with miR-338-3p mimics and corresponding negative controls. GAPDH was used as an internal control.  *[right]* Figs 3C,E from [Liu et al (2015)] .  The ... (C) protein expression levels of PTEN were detected in the HCC cells after transfection with miR-494 mimic or inhibitor. The PTEN protein expression level was detected in... (E) HCC cell lines by western blotting. *[left]* Fig 3C from [Ge et al (2016)] .  Western blot analysis of uPA, MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein expression following transfection with miR-497 mimic or miR-control. GAPDH was used as an internal control . I have concerns.  , 
 Another sighting! Figs 4B, 6B from [Zhang et al (2015)] .  , 
 Fig 5A. *[left]*  Images of tumor tissue with different group collected after sacrifice at day 21 . *[right]* Fig 7 from [Wu et al (2015)] .  miR-128 inhibits tumor growth tumorigenicity in vivo by inhibiting IRSI. (A) Images of tumors derived for different groups .  For comparison with *[left]* Fig 7A from [Liu et al (2014)] .  Images of tumor tissue with different plasmid treatments collected after sacrifice at day 35. *[right]* Fig 7A from [Zhang et al (2015)] .  Images of the tumor tissues from the different groups .  Surprising similarities after a 180-deg flip. , 
 Clockwise from top left: - Fig 3A from [Liu et al (2015)] .  Effects of miR-222 inhibitor on HepG2 cell cycle distribution. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase. - Fig 3A from [Zhang et al (2015)] .  Effects of microRNA-145 (miR-145) on multiple myeloma (MM) cell cycle distribution. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase. - Fig 3A from [**Li et al (2015)**] .  Enforced expression of miR-338-3p induced cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis in EC9706 cells. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase. - Fig 3A from [Zhang et al (2015b)] ,  miR-137 induces changes in cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis in SKOV3 cells. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase  The same panels keep appearing. ----------------------------------------------------- *[left]* Fig 2A from [Liu et al (2015)] .  Effect of DOX and Ad sh-NOB1 alone or in combination on cell cycle of TPC-1 cells. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase . *[upper right]* Fig 2C from [Song et al (2015)] .  Determination of HeLa cell cycle distribution by PI staining after transfection with miR-133a or miR-Ctrl . *[lower right]* Fig 2d from [Zhang et al (2015)] .  The cell cycle was detected by PI staining after being transfected with miR-133a or miR-NC.  The same panels keep appearing. --------------------------------------------------- Clockwise from upper left: - Fig 2D from [Pang et al (2015)] .  cell cycle progression ... determined in HepG2 cells transfected with the miR-154 mimic or miR-NC. - Fig 2D from [Zhao et al (2017)] .  cell cycle stage ... assessed in MM1S cells transfected with miR-144-3p mimic or miR-NC. - Fig 2D from [Li et al (2016)] .  The cell cycle procession was detected by flow cytometry after transfection with miR-494 or miR-NC . - Fig 2C from [Luan et al (2015)] .  Cell cycle was measured in glioma cells at posttransfection by flow cytometry .  The same panels keep appearing. --------------------------------- Fig 2D from [Zhou et al (2016)] .  Cell cycle distribution of U2OS cells transfected with the miR-154 mimic was determined by flow cytometry .  , 
 Retracted [20 September 2021] . -------------------- Following the publication of the above article, the authors have requested that it be retracted. After having repeated some of the experiments, the authors were not able to reproduce certain of the results. Furthermore, following a further investigation in the Editorial Office, it came to light that some of the wstern blotting data shown in Fig. 3 and the tumor images in Fig. 5 were strikingly similar to those that had been submitted for publication prior to the receipt of present article. Therefore, this article has been retracted from the Journal; all the authors agree to this retraction. The Editor and the authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused ,