Long non-coding RNA HAL suppresses the migration and invasion of serous ovarian cancer by inhibiting EMT signaling pathway
Authors: Lei Li
Dong Wang
Ke Wu
Lin Li
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: EMT; LncRNA HAL; migration; proliferation; serous ovarian cancer.
Affiliations: Gynecologic Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital and Chongqing Cancer Institute and Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China., Department Pathology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Abstract:  Objective: To investigate the specific function of long non-coding RNA HAL in serous ovarian cancer (SOC) and to further clarify the regulation of HAL on EMT pathway. Materials and methods: The expression of HAL and TWIST1 was detected by qRT-PCR. CCK8 assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the HAL function on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in SOC cells. Western blot was used to calculate protein level of Vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin. The effect of HAL on tumorigenesis of SOC was confirmed by xenograft nude mice model. Results: HAL was significantly decreased in SOC tissues and cells. Overexpression of HAL inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of SKOV3 cells, but promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, overexpression of HAL decreased the mRNA and protein levels of TWIST1 via a binding between HAL and TWIST1. Forced expression of TWIST1 reversed the inhibitory role of HAL on SOC cells' migration and invasion. The in vivo tumor growth assay showed that HAL suppressed SOC tumorigenesis with inhibiting EMT pathway. Conclusions: Our research emphasized HAL acting as a tumor-inhibiting gene by regulating EMT signaling pathway, thus providing some novel experimental basis for clinical treatment of SOC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Retracted [30 September 2016](http: www.funpecrp.com.br gmr year2016 vol15-3 pdf gmr007_retraction.pdf).  The GMR editorial staff was alerted about some manuscripts that were found to be substantially equal. The Publisher and Editor decided to retract these articles in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). After a thorough investigation, we have strong reason to believe that the peer review process was failure and, after review and contacting the authors, the editors of Genetics and Molecular Research decided to retract these articles. The authors and their institutions were advised of this serious breach of ethics. ...  Peng ZA, Lu RB, Xiao DM and Xiao ZM (2016). Increased expression of the lncRNA BANCR and its prognostic significance in human osteosarcoma. Genet. Mol. Res. 15 (1): gmr15017480 - DOI http: dx.doi.org 10.4238 gmr.15017480  This study describes the potential association of lncRNA BANCR in human osteosarcoma, which can be used as a potential biomarker for osteosarcoma prognosis, and can act as a target for therapeutic treatment.  The manuscript contains large sections of duplicated text from already available resources in all the major sections. Even the figure 3 and its subfigures are duplicated and modified from the study u201cIncreased expression of LncRNA BANCR and its prognostic significance in human hepatocellular carcinomau201d (http: link.springer.com article 10.1186 s12957-015-0757-5).  Several other major studies, from where the texts have been copied substantially, were found and two of them can be accessed at: [www.dovepress.com mir-32-functions-asa-tumor-suppressor-and-directly-targets-sox9-in-hu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OTT#F1] and [www.dovepress.com overexpression-of-long-noncoding-rna-hottip-promotes-tumorinvasion-an-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OTT]. ------------------------------- The first paper listed is [Zhou Gao (2016)] [**Expression of Concern**]. The second is [Zhu et al (2015)] ,  miR-32 functions as a tumor suppressor and directly targets SOX9 in human non-small cell lung cancer [**RETRACTED**]. Fig 3 is indeed familiar. Here, with Fig 3 from [Wang, Xia Bi (2014)] [**RETRACTED**} for comparison. ![file] For comparison, Figs 3 from [Tang et al (2016)] [**RETRACTED**] and [Lin et al (2014)] [**RETRACTED**]: ![] From Tang et al again, and from [Zhu et al (2014)] [**Expression of Concern**]: ![] Some of this series of retractions was [covered by RetractionWatch] . A broader context is available from [a Chinese science-integrity enthusiast] , blogging in 2016 and citing work by the now-vanished site PlagiarismWatch, to reconstruct a network of **11** mutually-plagiarised papers. All presumably the work of a papermill. ![] ,