LINC00488 stimulates the progression of esophageal cancer by targeting microRNA‑485‑5p
Authors: Hongbo Xu
Yan Ye
Journal: Oncology Letters (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: LINC00488; esophageal cancer; malignant progression; microRNA-485-5p.
Affiliations: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lu'an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Lu'an, Anhui 237000, P.R. China

Abstract:  Esophageal cancer is the eighth most prevalent malignancy in the world and China has a high incidence of esophageal cancer. Previous studies have identified that LINC00488 is an oncogene; however, its role in esophageal cancer remains unclear. The present study detected the expression and biological functions of LINC00488 in the progression of esophageal cancer. LINC00488 levels in 45 esophageal cancer and matched paracancerous tissues were detected. The association between LINC00488 level, clinical indexes and overall survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer was analyzed. Using Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell and wound healing assays, the influence of LINC00488 on the biological functions of OE19 and OE33 cells were assessed. The target gene of LINC00488, microRNA-485-5p (miRNA-485-5p), was predicted using bioinformatics databases. In addition, the role of miRNA-485-5p in the progression of esophageal cancer was evaluated using rescue experiments. LINC00488 was upregulated in esophageal cancer tissues and cell lines. A high level of LINC00488 was associated with lymphatic and distant metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. Silencing LINC00488 attenuated the viability, migration and wound healing of OE19 and OE33 cells. miRNA-485-5p was downregulated in esophageal cancer and low expression levels predicted a poor prognosis in these patients. In addition, miRNA-485-5p level was negatively correlated with that of LINC00488. Rescue experiments showed that knockdown of miRNA-485-5p reversed the attenuated proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer cells with LINC00488-knockdown. In conclusion, LINC00488 aggravated the malignant progression of esophageal cancer by targeting miRNA-485-5p. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 A panel in this paper s Figure 4C appears to show an overlap with a panel in Figure 2C of JY Chen et al. ERMPS (2020), DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_202001_20040, https: pubpeer.com publications 9266A736E004B8D7C32F6811161C1C#7. Shown with teal boxes. ![file] , 
 Figure 3F of this paper also follow s  Hoya s law of a sudden death of all participants, 75 months into the study, in combination with the  comb or  Lego block appearance of the Kaplan Meier plot seen in a range of other papers. In Figure 1D, however, the same patients, when split into two different subgroups, seem to show a better survival rate. The Survival data at 75 months ( 6 years) by itself is also remarkable because the patients were recruited 2-3 years before initial submission of the paper in May 2020. From the Methods:  *In total, 45 patients with esophageal cancer were enrolled from July 2017 to June 2018.* Here are both survival curves from Figure 1D and 3F: ![file] , 
 Figure 2C * Blue boxes: possible overlap with a panel in Figure 2C of Hao Wu et al., JBUON (2020), PMID: 32521900 - https: pubpeer.com publications 76307B2F002B5EBBA5EC4DE7A873B5 ![file] , 
 Retracted [4 July 2022] .  Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editorsu2019 attention by a concerned reader that one of the panels showing the results from cell migration assay experiments in Fig. 4C on p. 7 contained a section of data that were overlapping with data presented in another paper written by other authors and published in a different journal. Furthermore, a problematic issue was also noted with the Kaplanu2011Meier plots in Fig. 3C on p. 6, where the units along the xu2011axis (time in months) were not easily reconcilable with the dates reported for the collection of the patientsu2019 samples. Given the issue of the overlapping section of data and the difficulties associated with the presentation of the Kaplanu2011Meier plots, the Editor of *Oncology Letters* has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal on account of the sharing of data and a lack of confidence in the presented results. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,