MicroRNA-485 plays tumour-suppressive roles in colorectal cancer by directly targeting GAB2
Authors: Jibin Li
Xiaofei Yan
Rui Zhang
Jian Xu
Keer Jin
Wenya Li
Journal: Oncology Reports (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; MicroRNA-485; GAB2; Tumour suppressive; AKT
Affiliations: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Colorectal cancer (CRC) is reported to be the third most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths around the world. MicroRNA-485 (miR-485) has been reported to be aberrantly expressed and play important roles in several types of human malignancy. However, the expression level, biological functions and underlying molecular mechanisms of miR-485 in CRC remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine miR-485 expression levels and their clinical significance in CRC and to explore the functions and underlying mechanisms of miR-485 in this disease. In the present study, miR-485 was lowly expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines. Decreased miR-485 expression was associated with tumour size, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and TNM stage. Functional assays indicated that upregulation of miR-485 impaired CRC cell proliferation, invasion and induced cell apoptosis. Grb2-associated binding 2 (GAB2) was identified as a direct target of miR-485 in CRC. GAB2 was upregulated in CRC tissues and was negatively correlated with the miR-485 expression level. Furthermore, GAB2 knockdown simulated the tumour-suppressing roles of miR-485 overexpression in CRC cells. Moreover, restored GAB2 expression reversed the effects of miR-485 overexpression in CRC cells. In addition, miR-485 suppressed the AKT and ERK signalling pathways in CRC by directly targeting GAB2. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that miR-485 may play tumour suppressive roles in CRC by directly targeting GAB2 and indirectly regulating AKT and ERK signalling pathways, suggesting that miR-485 may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with this disease. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 2D, 5D, 6D.  Cell apoptosis in HCT116 and SW480 cells transfected with miR-485 mimics or miR-NC was analysed by flow cytometric analysis ;  The apoptosis rate of HCT116 and SW480 cells transfected with GAB2 siRNA or NC siRNA was analysed by flow cytometric analysis ;  Cell ... apoptosis (D) in the indicated cells were assessed by ... flow cytometry analysis . ![file] Two panels seems to be duplicated, with different labels (light-green rectangles). Note also the appearance of the same panel in Fig 5D of [Shen et al (2018)] . ![file] , 
 Retracted [27 January 2022] .  Following the publication of this paper, the authors contacted the Editorial Office to request that the article be retracted on account of an inability to obtain consistent results from repeated experiments. Independently, it was drawn to the Editor s attention that certain of the flow cytometric data shown in Figs. 2D, 5D and 6D were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in another article by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article were already under consideration for publication prior to its submission to *Oncology Reports*, the Editor has agreed to the authors request that this article should be retracted from the Journal. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. , 
 Some dead-horse-flogging may be in order. *[left]* Fig 2C from  MicroRNA-377 Targets Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 2 to Inhibit Cell Proliferation and Invasion of Cervical Cancer ([Ye et al 2019] ). *[middle, right]* **Figs 2C, 5C**. ![] UPDATE: But wait, there s more! At left here is Fig 2 from  MicroRNA-28 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in gastric cancer via the PTEN PI3K AKT signalling pathway ([Li et al 2017] ). ![] ------------------------------------------ [left] Fig 5C from  MicroRNAu2011432 is downregulated in osteosarcoma and inhibits cell proliferation and invasion by directly targeting metastasisu2011associated in colon canceru20111 ([Lv et al 2018] ). [right] **Fig 6C**. ![] H t ImageTwin. ,