RETRACTED ARTICLE: Identification of lncRNA TRPM2-AS/miR-140-3p/PYCR1 axis’s proliferates and anti-apoptotic effect on breast cancer using co-expression network analysis
Authors: Hong Yu
Yan Song
Xiao Luo
Tong Sun
Journal: Cancer Biology & Therapy (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: PYCR1; WGCNA; breast cancer; lncRNA TRPM2-AS; miR-140-3p.
Affiliations: a Department of Breast Surgery , China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China.

Abstract:  Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies occurring in women worldwide. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) has not been widely utilized in uncovering the biomarkers which played pivotal roles in BC treatment. This study aimed to verify the proliferative and anti-apoptotic effect of lncRNA TRPM2-AS/miR-140-3p/PYCR1 axis on BC based on WGCNA. WGCNA was applied for determining hub genes using gene expression data gained from breast cancer and adjacent tissues which were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The correlative curves showed the correlation between OS/DFS of BC patients and TRPM2-AS expression or PYCR1 expression based on the data of survival rate of BC patients obtained from the TCGA database. QRT-PCR was employed in detecting the expression levels of TRPM2-AS, miR-140-3p and PYCR1, and western blot analysis was adopted for determination of protein expression level of PYCR1. Dual luciferase assay was applied to verify the targeting relationship between TRPM2-AS and miR-140-3p, as well as miR-140-3p and PYCR1. The roles of TRPM2-AS, miR-140-3p, and PYCR1 in proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of BC cell were identified by CCK-8 assay, cell migration assay and flow cytometry. Hub genes were also gained from WGCNA test. The prognostic study showed a significant negative correlation between the high expression of PYCR1 and TRPM2-AS and the BC survival. QRT-PCR demonstrated that PYCR1 and TRPM2-AS were both overexpressed, while miR-140-3p was greatly down-regulated in BC cell. In addition, it was validated by dual luciferase assay that miR-140-3p directly targeted both TRPM2-AS and PYCR1. Furthermore, down-regulation of TRPM2-AS and PYCR1 inhibited proliferation yet promoted apoptosis of BC cell, and up-regulation of miR-140-3p in BC cell showed the same tendency. Taken together, TRPM2-AS could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of BC cell through TRPM2-AS/miR-140-3p/PYCR1 axis. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figures 7. C and 10. e include multiple areas of overlap, shown roughly with colored boxes. ![file] , 
 2020 retraction. https: www.tandfonline.com doi abs 10.1080 15384047.2018.1564563 Statement of Retraction The Editors and Publisher wish to retract the following article published in Cancer Biology Therapy: Sun T, Song Y, Yu H and Luo X. Identification of lncRNA TRPM2-AS miR-140-3p PYCR1 axisu2019s proliferates and anti-apoptotic effect on breast cancer using co-expression network analysis. Cancer Biol Ther 2019;20:760-773;10.1080 15384047.2018.1564563. The authors expressed their wish to retract the above-mentioned article due to serious technical errors located within figures 7c, 7d, and 10e. Upon review it was determined Figure 7c, 7d and Figure 10e appeared to contain a number of duplicated images: Figure 7c Panel SK-BR-3 Control appears to share partial duplication with Figure 7d Panel MCF-7 si-TRPM2-AS+miR-140-3p inhibitor Figure 7c Panel SK-BR-3 si-TRPM2-AS appears to share partial duplication with Figure 7d Panel MCF-7 si-TRPM2-AS Figure 7d Panel MCF-7 Control appears to share partial duplication with Figure 7d Panel MCF-7 NC Figure 10e Panel Control appears to be duplicated with Figure 10e Panel NC Despite repeated attempts to contact the authors following their initial contact in order to clarify the actions that led to these errors, they have not responded to our queries within the required timeframe. The Editors determined the findings of the study were no longer valid and requested for the article to be retracted. 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. ,