MicroRNA-765 alleviates the malignant progression of breast cancer via interacting with EZH1
Authors: Yichen Yang
Hengyu Wu
Zhen Zeng
Journal: American journal of translational research (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: EZH1; MicroRNA-765; breast cancer; metastasis; proliferation.
Affiliations: Queen Mary University of London, Nanchang University Nanchang 330006, China., Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Nanchang 330006, China.

Abstract:  To detect the expression pattern of microRNA-765 in breast cancer (BCa) and its regulatory effect on the disease progression. Expression level of microRNA-765 in 66 paired BCa tissues and matched normal tissues was detected by qRT-PCR. The relationship between microRNA-765 level and clinical data of BCa patients was analyzed. Subsequently, microRNA-765 level in BCa cell lines was examined as well. Changes in proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities in MCF-7 and SKBR3 cells either overexpressing microRNA-765 or not were evaluated. Furthermore, expression level of EZH1 in BCa tissues and cell lines was determined. The regulatory interaction between microRNA-765 and EZH1 was identified. Finally, the role of microRNA-765/EZH1 axis in the progression of BCa was assessed. MicroRNA-765 was downregulated in BCa tissues relative to matched normal ones. BCa patients expressing low expression of microRNA-765 presented higher tumor stage, higher metastatic rate and worse overall survival. Overexpression of microRNA-765 attenuated proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities in MCF-7 and SKBR3 cells. In addition, EZH1 was upregulated in BCa tissues and cell lines. EZH1 level was negatively regulated by microRNA-765 in BCa. Overexpression of EZH1 reversed the inhibitory effects of microRNA-765 on malignant progression of BCa. MicroRNA-765 is downregulated in BCa and closely correlated to tumor stage, lymphatic metastasis, distant metastasis and poor prognosis of BCa patients. Overexpression of microRNA-765 attenuates the malignant progression of BCa through negatively regulating EZH1. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper appears to be part of a set of papers (n=175 as of today and growing) that share a very similar layout. Subsets of these papers appear to share similar Kaplan-Meier survival plots, correlation plots, and overlapping photos of wound-healing, transwell assays, etc. Yet, there is little to no overlap between the authors of these papers or their departments and affiliated institutions. The very similar layout and overlapping photos suggest these papers might have all been created by the same entity, perhaps a paper mill. I have been calling this set the  Comb papers, because the Kaplan-Meier plots have a comb-like appearance. For PubPeer user Hoya Camphorifolia, the survival plots look like Lego blocks. Many of these survival plots show a sudden drop of survival at 75 months. Here is the Kaplan-Meier plot of this paper, Figure 1D.  , 
 Figure 2D: * Blue boxes: Two panels appear to show an overlap:  , 
 Here is a subset of four papers that all appear to show overlapping transwell photos: * Zhen Zeng et al., Am J Transl Res (2019), PMID: 31396353 - https: pubpeer.com publications AA0E480CA9F49590BE399B212CC580 * Q Deng et al. ERMPS (2020), DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_202002_20352 - https: pubpeer.com publications 6B1CB43EB2391F97D79E03A98EB300 * X Shi et al., ERMPS (2019), DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201912_19778 - https: pubpeer.com publications 3133C4267A6FBF81D00B0AF9FB9F2C * JY Chen et al., ERMPS (2020), DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_202001_20040 - https: pubpeer.com publications 9266A736E004B8D7C32F6811161C1C  , 
 Here is a comparison of this paper s Figure 3C (*right*) with an overlay of a bunch of other correlation plots from the Comb papers made by Hoya Camphorifolia (*left*). There are several striking similarities.  , 
 The paper is also another one that addresses the epidemic of breast cancer in men.  Column heads that promise to convert the numbers within each subgroup to percentages, but do not deliver, is another characteristic feature of this papermill s products. ,