The coexpression and clinical significance of costimulatory molecules B7-H1, B7-H3, and B7-H4 in human pancreatic cancer
Authors: Yan Chen
Yuting Kuang
Zixiang Zhang
Jing Sun
Qiaoming Zhi
Dechun Li
Shiduo Song
Hua Zhao
Songbing He
Lifeng Zhang
Dongming Zhu
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2014)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: B7-H1; B7-H3; B7-H4; pancreatic cancer; tumor-infiltrated T cell.
Affiliations: Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China., Department of Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Aim: We investigated the expression of the inhibitory costimulatory molecules B7-H1, B7-H3, and B7-H4 in human pancreatic cancer to define their clinical significance and mechanism in a tumor microenvironment. Patients and methods: Sixty-three pancreatic cancer tissues and 12 normal pancreatic tissues were examined in our research. Patients were enrolled in the study between December 2000 and August 2010. Expression levels of the B7 family of molecules and densities of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the tissues were characterized with immunohistochemical assays. Results: More than 50% of the patients expressed B7-H1 and B7-H4, and nearly 100% of the patients expressed B7-H3. B7-H1 expression was correlated with tumor size, B7-H3 expression was correlated with lymph-node metastasis and differentiation grade, and B7-H4 expression was correlated with tumor size, lymph-node metastasis, and invasion depth. High B7-H4 expression was also correlated with poor survival in pancreatic cancer. We determined the value of these three B7 family molecules in the postoperative survival prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer, and pancreatic cancer patients with less coexpression of the B7 family of molecules had a significantly higher survival rate. B7-H1 expression was found to be negatively related to the intensity of both CD3(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells, and B7-H4 expression was negatively related to CD3(+) T-cell infiltration intensity, but not to CD8(+) T cells. Conclusion: B7-H1, B7-H3, and B7-H4 are involved in pancreatic cancer progression, and their coexpression could be a valuable prognostic indicator. Negative regulation of T-cell infiltration might be the main mechanism of action of the B7 family of molecules in pancreatic cancer. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Two images in Figure 1A appear to have overlapping fields of view, although the interior areas of the overlap seem different. Compare the similarities of each of the 4 corners of the red boxes to more easily visualize the common elements. *** ![file] , 
 Retracted [23 June 2022] . --------------------- The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised regarding the alleged duplication of features in Figure 1A. Specifically, panel B7-H1 and B7-H4, row A, Cancer tissue, appears to show duplicated regions. The authors did not respond to our queries regarding the alleged duplication, nor did they provide original data for their study. The Editor requested to retract the article and the authors were notified of this. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u201cRetractedu201d. ,