<p>MOB1 Inhibits Malignant Progression of Colorectal Cancer by Targeting PAK2</p>
Authors: Liang Fu
Jie Liu
Yunyun Ma
Zhitao Shi
Man Yi
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: CRC; MOB1; PAK2; malignant progression.
Affiliations: Department of Proctology, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, People's Republic of China., Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Objective: We aimed at studying the mechanism of MOB1 inhibiting the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC), to provide a new guidance for the early diagnosis and treatment of CRC. Methods: MOB1 expression level in 68 pairs of CRC tissues and adjacent ones was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis, and the associations between the expression level of MOB1 and the clinicopathological indicators as well as the prognosis of CRC patients were analyzed. After constructing CRC cell lines that stably overexpressing or silencing MOB1, the changes of cell proliferation and metastasis ability were examined by Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8) and Transwell assay. In addition, the interaction between MOB1 and PAK2 and how the these two genes affect the biological functions of CRC cell lines were investigated by luciferase assay, qRT-PCR and Western Blot experiments. Results: Our data showed that MOB1 expression level in CRC tissues was remarkably lower than that in adjacent ones. In comparison to patients of the group of high MOB1 expression, these patients of low MOB1 expression group showed higher incidence of distant or lymph node metastasis and lower survival rate. Cell functional experiments revealed that overexpression of MOB1 markedly attenuated the proliferation and migration ability of CRC cell lines compared to the NC group; In contrast, knockdown of MOB1 enhanced the above-mentioned cell abilities compared to anti-NC group. Luciferase assay verified an interaction between MOB1 and PAK2; and Western blot analysis showed a negative correlation between the expression of the MOB1 and PAK2 protein levels in CRC tissues. Subsequently, we demonstrated that MOB1 interacted with PAK2 to regulate its expression and affected the proliferation and migration capacity of CRC cell lines in vitro. Conclusion: In summary, the lowly expressed MOB1 in CRC tissues and cell lines may accelerate the proliferation and migration through modulating PAK2 expression. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Several articles have been published in different high impact factor journals concerning the results of the same protocol. This study was performed on muslims who participated in the 2013-2017 Hajj (extended to 2018 in some articles). In all these publications, the same protocol authorized by an IRB under the number 2013-A00961u201344 on July 23, 2013 has been used. But there is serious concern on the compliance of this study to the Helsinki Declaration. Authors mentioned that the study has been approved by IRB in July 23, 2013 and started in September 2013. The protocol was approved by the Aix Marseille Universitu00e9 institutional review board (July 23, 2013; reference no. 2013-A00961u201344). There is several discrepancies in these information. **Did The study start in 2012 before the ethics committee approval ?** In another journal, the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal, certains of the same authors published the results of this protocol, with the same reference number. [Antibiotic use for respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A cohort survey and review of the literature] For information, one of the authors is also Associate Editor in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal. In article published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal, you can note that the same protocol started in 2012 before to get the ethics committee approval and then, get the ethics committee approval after (on July 23, 2013). I quote: * Pilgrims from Marseille, France participating in the Hajj from 2012 to 2017 were recruited at a specialized travel agency organizing trips to Mecca. * * The protocol was approved by the Aix-Marseille University institutional review board (**July 23rd, 2013**; reference no. 2013-A00961-44). * This is not a spelling mistake. As mentioned in the study and annexes, 169 pilgrims have been recruited in 2012 and data are provided for this year with the same protocol. As the authors mentioned themselves in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal that the protocol reference no. 2013-A00961u201344 started in 2012, the Year 2012 should be considered as the study start date for all articles related to the protocol approved under the reference #2013-A00961u201344 A study cannot be published in a scientific journal if it started before to get the proper Ethics Committee approval. Retrospective ethics committee approval is a serious breach of the Helsinski Declaration. Furthermore, I would like to note that only certified IRB (aka CPP in France) can authorize prospective interventional studies in France. Aix Marseille Universitu00e9 Ethics Committee is not a certified IRB in France. The format of the reference # is a RCB ID. This # (2013-A00961u201344) is delivered by the French Health Agency. Not by a certified IRB (CPP). As a consequence, there is a ground for serious and legitimate concerns about the study start date and the ethic committee approval. With regards of the Helsinki Declaration, Editors should consider this matter and clarify this situation asap. **List of articles related to the protocol authorized under the number 2013-A00961u201344 on July 23, 2013** 1 - [Antibiotic use for respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A cohort survey and review of the literature] 2 - [Respiratory Viruses and Bacteria among Pilgrims during the 2013 Hajj] 3 - [Lack of MERS Coronavirus but Prevalence of Influenza Virus in French Pilgrims after 2013 Hajj] 4 - [The dynamics and interactions of respiratory pathogen carriage among French pilgrims during the 2018 Hajj] 5 - [Gastrointestinal symptoms and the acquisition of enteric pathogens in Hajj pilgrims: a 3-year prospective cohort study] 6 - [Acquisition of multidrug-resistant bacteria and encoding genes among French pilgrims during the 2017 and 2018 Hajj] 7 - [Comparative genomics of two Shewanella xiamenensis strains isolated from a pilgrim before and during travels to the Hajj] 8 - [High Prevalence of Mycoplasma faucium DNA in the Human Oropharynx] 9 - [Comparison of nasal swabs with throat swabs for the detection of respiratory viruses by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR in adult Hajj pilgrims] 10 - [Respiratory tract infections among French Hajj pilgrims from 2014 to 2017] ,