Oncol Lett 21: 283, 2021; DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12544
Following the publication of this paper, a concerned reader drew to the Editor's attention that there appeared to be quite an extensive overlap of data (albeit with a different microRNA being reported on) with the following article, which contained an entirely different set of authors based at different research institutions: Li S, Zhang S, Yang W, Li F and Long H: Diagnostic value of exosomal miR-148a-3p in the serum of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Clin Lab: 67, 2021. The Editorial Office conducted an independent investigation of this matter, and were able to substantiate the reader's claims; moreover, a paper submitted to and accepted in the journal Kaohsiung J Med Sci over a similar time period, which did feature some of the same authors as the abovementioned Oncol Lett paper, likewise contained several of the same data.
Owing to the fact that a large number of data in this paper had also been published in two other articles that were accepted at approximately the same time, the Editor of Oncology Letters has decided that this paper should be retracted from the journal. he 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.