Long noncoding RNA UCA1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of thyroid cancer cells by sponging miR-497-3p
Authors: J-Y Yang
L-X Tong
C-Z Liu
H Gao
H Jin
Journal: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (2020)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: lncRNA UCA1; thyroid cancer; tumor progression; miR-497-3p; proliferation
Affiliations: Department of Thyroid Head and Neck Surgery, Tumor Hospital of Jinlin Province, Changchun, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted much attention for their roles in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the exact role of lncRNA UCA1 in the development of thyroid cancer (TC) and to explore the possible underlying mechanism. Patients and methods: UCA1 expression in both TC cells and tissues was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Colony formation assay, cell proliferation, and transwell assay were conducted in vitro. Subsequent luciferase reporter gene assay was applied to investigate the underlying mechanism. Furthermore, the function of UCA1 in vivo was monitored as well. Results: UCA1 expression level in TC samples was significantly higher than that of corresponding normal tissues. After UCA1 was knocked down in vitro and in vivo, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TC cells were significantly inhibited. Moreover, the expression of miR-497-3p was repressed after the knockdown of UCA1. Furthermore, miR-497-3p was directly targeted by UCA1. Conclusions: Knockdown of UCA1 could inhibit TC cell proliferation and metastasis via sponging miR-497-3p. Our findings might offer a new therapeutic intervention for TC patients. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of a set of 121 papers that all contain images from the same library of about 100 photos and plots. This is unexpected, because each paper has different authors and different affiliations, with little to no overlap, and describes different cancer types and molecules. It would be very hard to explain how authors from different labs would all obtain the same photo. Therefore, the papers might have all be derived from the same source, such as a paper mill that sells ready-to-be-published papers. This  Stock Photo paper set has been described in more detail on my blog post, https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 07 05 the-stock-photo-paper-mill and in a Wall Street Journal article by Eva Xiao (currently behind a paywall): https: www.wsj.com articles chinese-research-papers-raise-doubts-fueling-global-questions-about-scientific-integrity-11593939600 The vast majority (113 121) of the papers were published in the same journal, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (ERMPS). A link to the full set of papers can be found here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 172RWS18w1lTNJ9Nnj80fuXXTqTm4fGkoK0sdYyvKE3g edit?usp=sharing All papers have been reported to the journal editors on July 2, 2020. , 
 This article has been withdrawn at the end of July 2020. The retraction notice is not linked to the article, but can be found here: https: www.europeanreview.org article 22203 It reads:  *Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cLong noncoding RNA UCA1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of thyroid cancer cells by sponging miR-497-3p, by H. Gao, J.-Y. Yang, L.-X. Tong, H. Jin, C.-Z. Liu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (2): 728-734u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_202001_20052u2013PMID: 32016975u201d has been withdrawn.* *The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.* ,