MicroRNA‑874 is downregulated in cervical cancer and inhibits cancer progression by directly targeting ETS1
Authors: Junjun Shen
Quan Qi
Liping Zhong
Yuefen Pan
Qi Wang
Wenshu Han
Yizhen Jiang
Haihong Liao
Yunfei Pan
Journal: Oncology Reports (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: microRNAs; miR-874; cervical cancer; oncogenesis; progression
Affiliations: Department of Medical Oncology, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, P.R. China., Department of Medical Oncology, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, P.R. China.

Abstract:  An increasing number of studies have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) are dysregulated in cervical cancer and serve critical roles in cervical oncogenesis and progression. Therefore, identifying the aberrantly expressed miRNAs implicated in the formation and progression of cervical cancer may provide key clues for the development of effective therapeutic targets in treating patients with this type of malignancy. In the present study, miRNA‑874 (miR‑874) was downregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines, and this downregulation was associated with International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics stage and lymph node metastasis. The restored expression of miR‑874 prohibited the proliferation, migration and invasion, but promoted the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. In addition, E26 transformation specific‑1 (ETS1) was identified as the direct target of miR‑874 in cervical cancer. Inhibition of ETS1 served tumour‑suppressive roles similar to miR‑874 overexpression in cervical cancer cells. A series of rescue experiments revealed that restoring ETS1 expression abolished the tumour‑suppressing effects of miR‑874 in cervical cancer cells. Taken together, the results of the present study indicated that miR‑874 may serve as a tumour suppressor in cervical cancer by directly targeting ETS1. This function suggested that miR‑874 holds potential therapeutic applications in treating patients with this type of malignancy. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 2D, 5D, 6D.  Flow cytometric analysis was conducted to detect the apoptosis rates of SiHa and HeLa cells transfected with miR-874 mimics or miR-NC ;  Apoptosis rate was assessed using flow cytometric analysis ;  The apoptosis rate of the aforementioned cells was measured using flow cytometric analysis . ![file] Grey box marks panel with matching panels in 2D, 5D, 6D of [Zhao et al (2018)] ![] And Figs 2D, 5D of [Hu, Jin Wang (2018)] . ![] ![file] ------------------------------------------------------- Dark blue box marks a panel with matches in Figs 2D, 5D, 6D of [Kang et al (2017)] . ![] Also Figs 3B, 5D from [Shen et al (2018)] . ![] ![file] , 
 Fig 3.  miR-874 overexpression decreases the migration and invasion abilities of SiHa and HeLa cells. (A) Transwell migration assay was conducted to determine the migration ability of SiHa and HeLa cells following transfection with miR-874 mimics or miR-NC. (B) The effect of miR-874 overexpression on the invasion capacity of SiHa and HeLa cells was determined using Transwell invasion assay . ![file] Fig 2(D, E) from [Wang et al (2018)] .  Migration and invasion assays were used to determine the migratory and invasive capacities of HCT116 and SW480 cells transfected with miR-769 mimics or miR-NC, respectively . ![file] Overlapping images. Different identifications. Two separate teams of researchers at unrelated institutions seem to have had access to a single pool of images, picking images at random to illustrate descriptions of experiments. , 
 #2 Finally: *[left]* Fig 3A B from  MicroRNAu2011876u20115p inhibits the progression of glioblastoma multiforme by directly targeting Forkhead box M1 ([Wang et al 2018a] ). *[right]* Fig 3A B. *[below]* Fig 2D E from  microRNA-769 is downregulated in colorectal cancer and inhibits cancer progression by directly targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 1 ([Wang et al 2018b] ) **[retracted]**. ![file] , 
 Retracted [25 July 2022] .  Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editors attention by a concerned reader that certain of the Transwell migration assay data shown in Fig. 3A were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article were already under consideration for publication prior to its submission to Oncology Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a satisfactory reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,