miR-32 functions as a tumor suppressor and directly targets SOX9 in human non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Hui Chen
Linying Wang
Weisong Chen
Xiguang Yang
Long Yu
Dan Zhu
Jilin Xu
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2015)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: apoptosis; invasion; migration; prognosis; proliferation.
Affiliations: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Purpose: MicroRNA-32 (miR-32) is dysregulated in certain human malignancies and correlates with tumor progression. However, its expression and function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of miR-32 expression on NSCLC tumorigenesis and development. Methods: Using real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we detected miR-32 expression in NSCLC cell lines and primary tumor tissues. The association of miR-32 expression with clinicopathological factors and prognosis was also analyzed. Then, the effects of miR-32 expression on the biological behavior of NSCLC cells were investigated. Finally, the potential regulatory effect of miR-32 on SOX9 expression was confirmed. Results: miR-32 expression levels were significantly downregulated in NSCLC compared with the corresponding noncancerous lung tissues (P&lt;0.001). In addition, decreased miR-32 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.002), advanced tumor/nodes/metastasis (TNM) classification stages (P&lt;0.001), and shorter overall survival (P&lt;0.001). Multivariate regression analysis corroborated that downregulated miR-32 expression was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for NSCLC patients. In vitro studies demonstrated that miR-32 overexpression reduced A549 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, SOX9 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-32, using a luciferase reporter assay. Conclusion: These findings indicate that miR-32 may act as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC and could serve as a novel therapeutic agent for miR-based therapy. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Retracted [19 October 2016] . -------------------------------------------------- The Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy have been alerted to unacceptable levels of duplication with another published paper: Zhu D, Chen H, Yang X, Chen W, Wang L, Xu J and Yu L. [Decreased microRNA-224 and its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer patients] . Diagnostic Pathology. 9;198:2014 Accordingly, we retract Zhu D, Chen H, Yang X, Chen W, Wang L, Xu J, Yu L. miR-32 functions as a tumor suppressor and directly targets SOX9 in human nonu2013small cell lung cancer. OncoTargets and Therapy. 2015;8:1773u20131783. --------------------------------------------------------------- A broader context is available from [a Chinese science-integrity enthusiast] , blogging in 2016 and citing work by the now-vanished site PlagiarismWatch, to reconstruct a network of **11** mutually-plagiarised papers. All presumably the work of a papermill. Some of this series of retractions was [covered by RetractionWatch] . ![] ,