<p>circPDSS1 Stimulates the Development of Colorectal Cancer via Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling</p>
Authors: Qun Fang
Ligang Zhao
Anshan Dong
Aijie Yang
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: CRC; Wnt/β-catenin; circPDSS1; metastasis.
Affiliations: Department of Emergency, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Weifang, People's Republic of China., Department of Radiotherapy, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China., Department of Gastroenterology, Weifang Second People's Hospital, Weifang, People's Republic of China., Department of General Surgery, PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Objective: This study aims to illustrate the role of circPDSS1 and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients and methods: Cancerous mucosa and normal paracancerous mucosa tissues more than 5 cm away from the tumor were surgically collected from 56 CRC patients. circPDSS1 levels in collected tissues and CRC cell lines were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The influence of circPDSS1 on clinical features of CRC patients was analyzed. After knockdown of circPDSS1 in HCT-8 and HCT-116 cells, phenotype changes were examined by Transwell, tube formation and wound healing assay. Western blot and rescue experiments were finally performed to uncover the role of circPDSS1 and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the development of CRC. Results: circPDSS1 was upregulated in CRC mucosa tissues than controls. High level of circPDSS1 predicted high rates of lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis, and poor prognosis in CRC patients. Knockdown of circPDSS1 attenuated migratory ability and angiogenesis in CRC cells. Protein levels of key genes in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, including β-catenin, GSK-3β, c-Myc, MMP-9 and cyclin D1 were downregulated in CRC cells transfected with sh-circPDSS1. Overexpression of β-catenin reversed the role of circPDSS1 in attenuating migratory ability and angiogenesis in CRC cells. Conclusion: Upregulated circPDSS1 in CRC is closely linked to lymphatic metastasis, distant metastasis and overall survival. It stimulates the migratory ability and angiogenesis in CRC cells via activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This paper appears to be part of a large set of papers (n=190 as of today and growing) that share a very similar layout. Subsets of these papers appear to share similar Kaplan-Meier survival plots, correlation plots, flow cytometry panels, and overlapping photos of wound-healing, transwell assays, etc. Yet, there is little to no overlap between the authors of these papers or their departments and affiliated institutions. I have been calling this set the  Comb papers, because the Kaplan-Meier plots have a comb-like appearance. For PubPeer user Hoya Camphorifolia, the survival plots look like Lego blocks. Many of these survival plots show a sudden drop of survival at 75 months. Another characteristic is the lack of percentages in their Tables I, in columns labeled with percentages, and the nicely even spread of patients into roughly equally-sized group, no matter which parameter is chosen. The very similar layout and overlapping photos suggest these papers might have all been created by the same entity, perhaps a paper mill. Here is Figure 1D from this paper, showing the Comb- (or Lego-)like survival plot with its nosedive at 75 months. ![file] And here is Table I with its undelivered percentages in the High Low columns. ![file] , 
 Retracted [24 August 2021] . -------------------------------------------- The Editor and Publisher of *OncoTargets and Therapy* wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised regarding the integrity of the data presented in Figure 1 and the % values reported in Table 1. The authors responded to our queries and agreed there were errors with the data but were unable to verify their original data and have therefore agreed to retract the article. Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u201cRetractedu201d. ,