Long non-coding RNA ROR1-AS1 induces tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer by affecting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Lei Zhang
Weihong Zheng
Wei Wang
Ke Li
Journal: Bioscience reports (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Long noncoding RNA; ROR1-AS1; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; colorectal cancer.
Affiliations: Department of General Surgery, Zhejiang Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital/Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, 208 East Huancheng Road, Hangzhou Zhejiang, China., School of Life Science, Huzhou University, 759 Erhuan East Road, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China., Department of Anorectal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 318 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Abstract:  Recent studies have discovered that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in malignant tumors. In this research, lncRNA ROR1-AS1 was selected to identify how it affects the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). ROR1-AS1 expression was detected by RT-qPCR in CRC tissue samples. ROR1-AS1 expression level and patients' overall survival time were analyzed. Functional experiments were conducted to identify the changes of biological behaviors in CRC cells after knockdown of ROR1-AS1. Moreover, we also explored the underlying mechanism. Detection of ROR1-AS1 expression level in patients' tissues showed that ROR1-AS1 was higher in CRC tissues than that in adjacent ones. ROR1-AS1 expression was negatively associated with patients' overall survival time. Cell growth ability was inhibited due to knockdown of ROR1-AS1 in vitro. Moreover, cell migration and invasion were repressed after ROR1-AS1 knockdown. Furthermore, due to knockdown of ROR1-AS1, the targeted proteins in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were suppressed. These results suggest that ROR1-AS1 could enhance cell metastasis and proliferation via inducing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which might offer a potential therapeutic target in CRC. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of a set of 121 papers that all contain images from the same library of about 100 photos and plots. This is unexpected, because each paper has different authors and different affiliations, with little to no overlap, and describes different cancer types and molecules. It would be very hard to explain how authors from different labs would all obtain the same photo. Therefore, the papers might have all be derived from the same source, such as a paper mill that sells ready-to-be-published papers. This  Stock Photo paper set has been described in more detail on my blog post, https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 07 05 the-stock-photo-paper-mill and in a Wall Street Journal article by Eva Xiao (currently behind a paywall): https: www.wsj.com articles chinese-research-papers-raise-doubts-fueling-global-questions-about-scientific-integrity-11593939600 The vast majority (113 121) of the papers were published in the same journal, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (ERMPS). A link to the full set of papers can be found here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 172RWS18w1lTNJ9Nnj80fuXXTqTm4fGkoK0sdYyvKE3g edit?usp=sharing All papers have been reported to the journal editors on July 2, 2020. , 
 https: portlandpress.com bioscirep article 40 7 BSR-20191453_EOC 225709 Expression-of-Concern-Long-non-coding-RNA-ROR1-AS1 u201cThe Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues surrounding the scientific validity of this paper, hence has issued an expression of concern to notify readers whilst the Editorial Office investigates.u201d , 
 The PubMed  similar papers feature informs me that this paper is similar to  ROR1-AS1 promotes tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer via targeting Wnt u03b2-catenin [(Liao, Maierdan Lv 2019)] . The present Fig 3: ![file] Fig 3 from Liao c: ![file] The PubMed algorithm seems to work. , 
 https: doi.org 10.1042 BSR-20191453_RET This Retraction follows an Expression of Concern relating to this article previously published by Portland Press. This article is being retracted from Bioscience Reports at the request of the authors following receipt of a notification from a reader, alerting the Journal to multiple duplicated images in Figure 2, 3C, 3D, 3E and 4B. The Editorial Office has also been made aware that these images have been reused in multiple publications, which brings into question the validity of the data presented in this paper. The authors wish to retract the article. The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board agree with the retraction. ,