Decreased microRNA-224 and its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Hui Chen
Linying Wang
Weisong Chen
Xiguang Yang
Long Yu
Dan Zhu
Jilin Xu
Journal: Diagnostic Pathology (2014)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: MicroRNA-224; non-small cell lung cancer; tumorigenesis; development; expression
Affiliations: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, 321000, P.R. China. .

Abstract:  Background: MicroRNA-224 has been proven dysregulated in some human malignancies and correlated with tumor progression. However, its expression and clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of miR-224 in NSCLC tumorigenesis and development. Methods: Using real-time quantitative RT-PCR, we detected miR-224 expression in NSCLC cell lines and primary tumor tissues. The association of miR-224 expression with clinicopathological factors and prognosis was also statistically analyzed. MTT, flow cytometric, Transwell invasion and migration assays, and scratch migration assay were used to test the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of NSCLC cells after miR-224 mimics transfection. Results: MiR-224 expression levels were significantly down-regulated in NSCLC compared to the corresponding noncancerous lung tissues (P &lt;0.001). In addition, decreased miR-224 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.002), advanced TNM stage (P &lt;0.001), and shorter overall survival (P &lt;0.001). Multivariate regression analysis corroborated that down-regulation of miR-224 was an independent unfavourable prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC. Furthermore, transfection of miR-224 mimics in NSCLC A549 cells was able to reduce cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and promote cell apoptosis. Conclusions: These findings indicate that miR-224 may act not only as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker, but also as a potential target for miR-based therapy of NSCLC. Virtual slides: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/13000_2014_198. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Expression of Concern, [30 May 2019] .  The Editor-in-Chief is issuing an editorial expression of concern to alert readers that the article, Decreased microRNA-224 and its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer patients, Diagnostic Pathology 2014 9:198 [1] contains substantial overlap with article [MiR-206 functions as a tumor suppressor and directly targets K-Ras in human oral squamous cell carcinoma] Lin et al. in Onco Targets Therapy 2015; 8: 1773u20131783 and Fig. 3 shows similarity to Fig. 3 in article, [Decreased microRNA-452 expression and its prognostic significance in human osteosarcoma] , World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2016, 14:8. As the authors have not responded to correspondence asking them for an explanation, this matter has now been referred to the authorsu2019 institution for further investigation. A [Chinese science-integrity enthusiast noted the overlaps in 2016] , citing the work of now-defunct PlagiarismWatch to document an extensive network of recycled imagery that links this paper to [Tang et al (2016)] : ![file] ![file] The same flow-cytometry scatterplots and Invasion Migration results appeared in [Lin et al (2014)] ,  MiR-206 functions as a tumor suppressor and directly targets K-Ras in human oral squamous cell carcinoma [RETRACTED]. ![] ![] ![] From there the network extends to **11** papers in total, presumably all the work of a single papermill. Some of this series of retractions was [covered by RetractionWatch] . ![] The overwhelming evidence of fabrication has led other journals to retract the majority of these papers. In this case, in the absence of a response from the authors, the editors have evidently decided to leave the final fate of the paper in the hands of the authors institution. It don t seem to be responding either. ,