Reduced miR-125a-5p level in non-small-cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression
Authors: Tao Yu
Yegang Ma
Hongxu Liu
Changhao Liu
Pengfei Li
Journal: Open Biology (2018)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Suv39H1; miR-125a-5p; non-small-cell lung cancer.
Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China., Department of Thoracic Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China., Department of Medical Imaging, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China ., Department of Medical Imaging, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang 110042, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) serve an important role in tumourigenesis and development. Although the low expression of miR-125a-5p in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been reported, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the current study, the low expression of miR-125a-5p in NSCLC was verified in paired cancer tissues and adjacent non-tumour tissues. Furthermore, the CpG island in the miR-125a-5p region was hypermethylated in the tumour tissues, and the hypermethylation was negatively correlated with miR-125a-5p expression. Target gene screening showed that the histone methyltransferase Suv39H1 was one of the potential target genes. In vitro studies showed that miR-125a-5p could directly suppress Suv39H1 expression and decrease the H3K9me3 levels. On the other hand, Suv39H1 could induce demethylation of miR-125a-5p, resulting in re-activation of miR-125a-5p. What is more, overexpessing miR-125a-5p could also self-activate the silenced miR-125a-5p in NSCLC cells, which suppressed cell migration, invasion and proliferation in vitro and inhibited cancer progression in vivo Thus, we found that the epigenetic silenced miR-125a-5p could be self-activated through targeting Suv39H1 in NSCLC, suggesting that miR-125a-5p might not only have the potential prognostic value as a tumour biomarker but also be a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 As pointed out by Dr Elisabeth Bik [here] this article bears remarkable similarities to [an earlier article] that examined the role of mrR-125a-5p in gastric cancer. There is also a problem in many lines (every line that I have checked so far) of Table 1. For example, if the percentages in each row are multiplied by the respective column subsample size and added, the total does not equal the N in the first column. For example, for Age 65 (the first line), 34.0% of 292 plus 45.0% of 92 = 140.68, which is not close to 170. Nor does it seem likely that the high low columns are reversed (they were reported in the opposite order in the earlier article by Cai et ai., mentioned previously), as that would give 34.0% of 92 plus 45.0% of 292 = 162.68. , 
 As posted out by Dr Brown in #1, this paper is very similar to Mingzhi Cai et al. There are many similarities with other papers as well. I am still working on other similarities that both papers have to other papers, but posting this now before others do. In the figures comparisons below, the Cai et al. paper will be shown on the left, and the Liu et al paper will be shown on the right. * Left: Mingzhi Cai et al. J Cell Mol Med. 2018;22:4721u20134731, doi: 10.1111 jcmm.13716,  Epigenetic silenced miR-125a-5p could be self-activated through targeting Suv39H1 in gastric cancer , https: pubpeer.com publications 39A1613F4546DA16064BA441B29A0F * Right: Hongxu Liu et al. Open Biol. (2018) 8: 180118, doi: 10.1098 rsob.180118,  Reduced miR-125a-5p level in non-small- cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression (this paper). Note that the Cai paper reports on 286 gastric cancer patients from Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. In contrast, the Liu paper reports on 384 non-small-cell lung cancer pateitns from China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute. ![file] Figures 1: the Kaplan curves look very similar. ![file] Figures 2: the line graphs and Western blots (albeit in different order) look very similar. ![file] Figures 3: the line graphs and Western blots (albeit in different order) look very similar. ![file] Figures 4: the line graphs look very similar. ![file] Figures 5: the line graphs look very similar. ![file] Tables 2 and 3: many numbers look very similar. Boxes of the same color highlight rows that look identical. ![file] , 
 This paper is part of a set of at least 8 papers that have similar Kaplan-Meier curves, table values, line graphs, and some Western blots. These papers are from different authors, different hospitals, and describe different patients groups, different cancers, and different proteins. The 8 papers are: * Kuangkuang Zhu et al., International Immunopharmacology 84 (2020) 106474, doi: 10.1016 j.intimp.2020.106474 Interleukin-36 receptor antagonist is associated with the progression of renal cell carcinoma * Mingfei Sun et al. Cell Physiol Biochem 2018;51:1839-1851. doi: 10.1159 000495706 Interleukin-35 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is Associated with Tumor Progression * Mingzhi Cai et al. J Cell Mol Med. 2018;22:4721u20134731, doi: 10.1111 jcmm.13716 Epigenetic silenced miR-125a-5p could be self-activated through targeting Suv39H1 in gastric cancer * Hongxu Liu et al. Open Biol. (2018) 8: 180118, doi: 10.1098 rsob.180118 Reduced miR-125a-5p level in non-small- cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression * Feng Wang et al. Open Biol. (2018) 8: 180132. doi: 10.1098 rsob.180132 Reduced interleukin-38 in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression * Xiaofei Yan et al. Oncotarget, 2017, Vol. 8, (No. 30), pp: 49064-49075, doi: 10.18632 oncotarget.17093 Interleukin-37 mediates the antitumor activity in colon cancer through u03b2-catenin suppression * Xiuli Wang et al. Oncotarget, 2017, Vol. 8, (No. 58), pp: 98918-98930, doi: 10.18632 oncotarget.22041 Reduced m6A mRNA methylation is correlated with the progression of human cervical cancer * Jian Zhang et al. Oncotarget, 2017, Vol. 8, (No. 42), pp: 71563-71573, doi: 10.18632 oncotarget.17751 Interleukin-35 expression is associated with colon cancer progression As an example, here are the Kaplan curves from all 8 papers. Some have a middle black line that is not present in all 8, but the red and green curves have a surprisingly similar shape. ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] , 
 As another example of the similarities between these eight papers, here are the tables representing the Univariate and Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Colored boxes highlight rows with identical or very similar numbers found across these papers. ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] , 
 Editorial expression of Concern: https: royalsocietypublishing.org doi 10.1098 rsob.200151  Following the publication of u2018Reduced miR-125a-5p level in non-small-cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progressionu2019 Open Biol.8: 180118. (Published online: 10 October 2018), the Editorial team have very serious concerns regarding the validity of the data used in this study. We are issuing an expression of concern here and investigating this as a matter of urgency; we will notify readers as to the results of our investigation as soon as possible. , 
  [The Editor-in-Chief in agreement with the Publisher has retracted this article] . Following an investigation, we have found that the published manuscript appears to contain substantial overlap with a previously published manuscript [[1] ]. This paper has been identified among of a set of papers that present significant text and data duplication and therefore the data reported in this article are unreliable. The authors and the institution have not responded to any correspondence about this retraction. Prof. Jon Pines FRS Editor-in-Chief, Open Biology ,