RETRACTED ARTICLE: miR-663 attenuates tumor growth and invasiveness by targeting eEF1A2 in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Tao Wang
Xiaonan Chen
Wenqiao Zang
Min Li
Yuanyuan Wang
Guoqiang Zhao
Yuwen Du
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2015)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: miR-663; eEF1A2; pancreatic cancer; growth; invasion
Affiliations: College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan Province, China. ., Department of Hemato-tumor, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of TCM, Zhengzhou, 450000, China. .

Abstract:  Background: miR-663 is associated with many important biologic processes, such as the evolution, development, viral infection, inflammatory response, and carcinogenesis among vertebrates. However, the molecular function and mechanism of miR-663 in pancreatic cancer growth and invasion is still unclear. Methods: Western blot and real-time PCR were used to study the expression level of eEF1A2 protein and miR-663 in pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. The Pearson χ (2) test was used to determine the correlation between miR-663 expression and clinicopathologic features of patients. Patients' survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, using the log-rank test for comparison. The biological function of miR-663 was examined by measuring cell growth, cell invasion and apoptosis analysis in vitro and in vivo. miR-663 target gene and signaling pathway was identified by luciferase activity assay and western blot. Results: We found that, in pancreatic cancer, eEF1A2 was significantly upregulated but miR-663 was significantly downregulated. Further results showed that the expression level of eEF1A2 and miR-663 was strongly associated with TNM stage and node metastasis status of the patients. miR-663 and eEF1A2 were inversely correlated with each other, and the changes in the expression levels of each can also predict the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. We identified miR-663 as a tumor attenuate molecular that attenuated the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we confirmed that the expression of eEF1A2 can partially restore the pro-apoptotic and anti-invasion functions of miR-663. Conclusions: miR-663 attenuated the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cells both in vitro and in vivo by directly targeting eEF1A2. miR-663 and eEF1A2 might be potential targets for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in the future. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 [Bottom]:  Figure 3 ... D. miR-663 transfection of PANC-1 reduced growth of colonies. Colony formation in soft agar after 14 days using PANC-1 exposed to miR-663. [Top]:  Fig. 2 ... f, g Cells were stained with Giemsa after transfection with BTG3 expression construct in OE-33 and OE-19 cells . From  BTG3 upregulation induces cell apoptosis and suppresses invasion in esophageal adenocarcinoma [(Du et al. 2015)] . ![file] Could the authors clarify whether the colonies involve esophageal or pancreatic carcinoma cell lines? , 
 [Bottom]:  Figure 6 MiR-663 inhibited tumor growth in vivo. ... B. Tumors were harvested after 4 weeks [Top]: Fig. 8.  EC9706 cell xenograft tumor experiment. from  Effect of miR-451 on the biological behavior of the esophageal carcinoma cell line EC9706 [(Wang et al 2013)] . ![file] Two tumors appear in both collections. Could the authors clarify whether they represent esophageal-carcinoma or PANC01 cells? , 
  Figure 5 miR-663 induces cell apoptosis in PANC-1 and AsPC-1 cells. The FACS plots of (A) and (B) show an unexpected number of cells in common between the Blank controls for PANC-1 and AsPC-1, shown at left by superimposing one on the other (with black white reversal and semi-transparency). ![file] Area of shared cells, where there is cancellation, is marked. , 
 2019 retraction. https: molecular-cancer.biomedcentral.com articles 10.1186 s12943-019-1042-y Retraction Note: miR-663 attenuates tumor growth and invasiveness by targeting eEF1A2 in pancreatic cancer Wenqiao Zang, Yuanyuan Wang, Tao Wang, Yuwen Du, Xiaonan Chen, Min Li Guoqiang Zhao Molecular Cancervolume 18, Article number: 118 (2019) | Download Citation The original article was published in Molecular Cancer 2015 14:37 Retraction note to: Molecular Cancer https: doi.org 10.1186 s12943-015-0315-3 The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article [1] because Figure 6b overlaps with Figure 8 of [2] and Figure 4a overlaps with Figure 2b of [3]. An investigation by Zhengzhou University has confirmed that these figures overlap. The data reported in this article are therefore unreliable. Guoqiang Zhao agrees with this retraction. Wenqiao Zang, Yuanyuan Wang, Tao Wang, Yuwen Du, Xiaonan Chen and Min Li have not responded to any correspondence about this retraction. References 1. Zang W, Wang Y, Wang T, Du Y, Chen X, Li M, et al. miR-663 attenuates tumor growth and invasiveness by targeting eEF1A2 in pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer. 2015;14:37. https: doi.org 10.1186 s12943-015-0315-3. 2. Wang T, Zang W, Li M, et al. Dig Dis Sci. 2013;58:706. https: doi.org 10.1007 s10620-012-2395-x. 3. Wang T, Xuan X, Li M, et al. Diagn Pathol. 2013;8:179. https: doi.org 10.1186 1746-1596-8-179 Retracted article. , 
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