Abstract
At the request of the authors, Sage and Journal Editor, the following article has been retracted:
Zhang Q-H, Hu Q-X, Xie D, et al. Ganoderma lucidum Exerts an Anticancer Effect on Human Osteosarcoma Cells via Suppressing the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2019;18. doi:10.1177/1534735419890917
After concerns were raised on PubPeer (PubPeer - Exerts an Anticancer Effect on Human Osteosarcoma Cells via. . .) regarding potential image overlap with earlier and subsequent publications1,2, as well as within the article itself, the authors contacted the journal to request a retraction of their article.
Concerns were raised about the following figures:
Fig. 1E Panel MG63 (0 and 100 µg/ml) is highly similar to Fig. 2D (shCX431 and NTC1 respectively).
Fig. 1C MG63 (0 µg/ml) is similar to Fig. 1C U2-OS (0 µM)2
Fig. 2C, U2-OS (0h, 100 μg/mL) is highly similar to Fig. 2C, U2-OS (0h 200 μg/mL)
Fig. 2E, MG63 (100 μg/ml) is highly similar to Fig. 2E, U2-OS (100 μg/mL)
Fig. 3G, MMP2 band is highly similar to Fig. 3C caspase 92
After being asked for clarification, the authors acknowledged that six images were incorrectly used as a result of an oversight.
Following review by the Journal Editor and in light of outstanding concerns about image integrity, that call into question the validity of the findings, the Editor and Sage retract the article.
Authors DX and HM could not be reached. Other authors did not respond when informed of the decision to retract.
1. Xie D., Zheng G., Xie P., Zhang Q., Lin F., Chang B., Hu Q., Du S., Li X. Antitumor activity of resveratrol against human osteosarcoma cells: a key role of Cx43 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Oncotarget. 2017; 8: 111419-111432. doi: https://www.oncotarget.com/article/22810/
2. Zheng, G.-z., Zhang, Q.-h., Chang, B., Xie, P., Liao, H., Du, S.-x., & Li, X.-d. Dioscin induces osteosarcoma cell apoptosis by upregulating ROS-mediated P38 MAPK signaling. Drug Development Research, 2023; 84, 25–35. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ddr.22009