Long non-coding RNA PVT1 functions as an oncogene in ovarian cancer via upregulating SOX2
Authors: Q-Y Wu
C-X Zhang
J Ling
M-F Zou
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2018)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: long non-coding RNA PVT1; lnc-PVT1; ovarian cancer; progression; expression
Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wujin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changzhou, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the role of long non-coding RNA PVT1 (lnc-PVT1) in the progression of ovarian cancer. Patients and methods: The expression of lnc-PVT1 in ovarian cancer cells and 50 paired tissue samples were detected by quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, cell proliferation assay and transwell assay were performed to identify the function of lnc-PVT1 in vitro. QRT-PCR and Western blot were utilized to explore the possible underlying mechanism. Results: Compared with normal tissues, the expression of lnc-PVT1 T1 was remarkably upregulated in tumor tissues. Moreover, the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer were promoted after knockdown of lnc-PVT1 in vitro. Moreover, both the mRNA and protein levels of SOX2 were suppressed after knockdown of lnc-PVT1 in vitro. Besides, the expression of SOX2 in tumor tissues was positively correlated to lnc-PVT1. Conclusions: Lnc-PVT1 could enhance the invasion and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells through upregulating SOX2, which might serve as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of ovarian cancer. 

Retracted: Yes

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. , 
 Some time in the last week or so, the journal has wished the paper into the cornfield: https: www.europeanreview.org article 22238 Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cLong non-coding RNA PVT1 functions as an oncogene in ovarian cancer via upregulating SOX2, by M.-F. Zou, J. Ling, Q.-Y. Wu, C.-X. Zhang, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018; 22 (21): 7183-7188u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201811_16251u2013PMID: 30468460u201d has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. ,