Retracted: A Novel CircRNA Circ_0095424 Regulates Proliferation, Metastasis, and Apoptosis of Osteosarcoma Cells Via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway Through Targeting the miR-1238/HMGB1 Axis
Authors: Chuan Qin
Yutong Sui
Zhiguo Zhang
Bo Li
Liyi Luan
Journal: Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals (2020)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: HMGB1; OS; circ_0095424; miR-1238; progression.
Affiliations: Department of Orthopedics, Rizhao City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Rizhao, China., State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China., Department of Orthopedic, The People's Hospital of Gaotang, Liaocheng, China., Department of Joint Surgery, No. 1 Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China., Department of Orthopedics, The No. 4 Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, China.

Abstract:  Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals is officially retracting the article entitled, A Novel CircRNA Circ_0095424 Regulates Proliferation, Metastasis, and Apoptosis of Osteosarcoma Cells Via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway Through Targeting the miR-1238/HMGB1 Axis by Zhang et al., (Cancer Biother Radiopharm epub 19 Aug 2020; DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2020.3563), due to manipulated images appearing in the published paper. The Editor of the journal received an email on August 31, 2020 from the corresponding author of the article, Dr. Chuan Qin, indicating that, ''due to our negligence in organizing the pictures, the protein pictures are repeatedly placed in Figure 7G PI3K. For this, we express our sincerest apologies. We need to [issue] an [erratum] on this issue. We have replaced the protein picture of Figure 7G with the correct picture.'' However, one of the attachments submitted with the request appeared to be the original version of Figure 7 from the accepted manuscript. A second attachment appeared to be the data from three replicates to be used (by the journal) to construct a revised version of Figure 7. The Editor, in turn, informed the authors that it was not at the journal's discretion to create a new image for them, and asked the authors to create the revised figure and supply it to the publisher. Below is the response from Dr. Qin, dated September 2, 2020. "In fact, our team's Western blot experiment commissioned a third-party company for testing. At present, some peers have found that the company has forged experimental reports. We believe that the authenticity of the data provided by the company is problematic. After contacting the company, they were unable to provide the original images. In view of the problems in this manuscript, all the authors discussed and agreed to withdraw the manuscript." As the entirety of the situation is unacceptable, the Editor officially retracts the article based on the "forged experimental reports" and the questionable validity of the data provided. The Editor and Publisher of Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the scientific literature and the community it serves. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 7. Bands of PI3K in U2OS and MG63 are the same after stretching. ![file] , 
 Retracted [13 October 2020] . -------------------------------------- *Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals* is officially retracting the article entitled, A Novel CircRNA Circ_0095424 Regulates Proliferation, Metastasis, and Apoptosis of Osteosarcoma Cells Via the PI3K AKT Signaling Pathway Through Targeting the miR-1238 HMGB1 Axis by Zhang et al., (Cancer Biother Radiopharm epub 19 Aug 2020; DOI: 10.1089 cbr.2020.3563), due to manipulated images appearing in the published paper. The Editor of the journal received an email on August 31, 2020 from the corresponding author of the article, Dr. Chuan Qin, indicating that, u201cdue to our negligence in organizing the pictures, the protein pictures are repeatedly placed in Figure 7G PI3K. For this, we express our sincerest apologies. We need to [issue] an [erratum] on this issue. We have replaced the protein picture of Figure 7G with the correct picture.u201d However, one of the attachments submitted with the request appeared to be the original version of Figure 7 from the accepted manuscript. A second attachment appeared to be the data from three replicates to be used (by the journal) to construct a revised version of Figure 7. The Editor, in turn, informed the authors that it was not at the journal s discretion to create a new image for them, and asked the authors to create the revised figure and supply it to the publisher. Below is the response from Dr. Qin, dated September 2, 2020. u201cIn fact, our team s Western blot experiment commissioned a third-party company for testing. At present, some peers have found that the company has forged experimental reports. We believe that the authenticity of the data provided by the company is problematic. After contacting the company, they were unable to provide the original images. In view of the problems in this manuscript, all the authors discussed and agreed to withdraw the manuscript.u201d As the entirety of the situation is unacceptable, the Editor officially retracts the article based on the u201cforged experimental reportsu201d and the questionable validity of the data provided. The Editor and Publisher of *Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals* is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the scientific literature and the community it serves. ,