Retraction Note: Circular RNA circNRIP1 acts as a microRNA-149-5p sponge to promote gastric cancer progression via the AKT1/mTOR pathway

Retraction Note: Mol Cancer 18, 20 (2019)

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-018-0935-5

The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article. After publication, concerns were raised regarding similarities between the data presented in this article and the authors’ other publications [1, 2]. Specifically:

• Fig. 5B miR-149-5p images appear highly similar to Fig. 6B si-cNRIP1;

• Fig. 5E circNRIP1 ov day 1 image appears highly similar to Fig. 2F mir-133a-3p mimic day 10 in [1];

• Fig. 5E si circNRIP1 day 10 image appears highly similar to Fig. 2E si-Control Day 10 in [2];

• Fig. 6A PFK and P62 blots appear highly similar.

Additionally, the authors used SGC-7901, BGC-823 and MGC-803 cell lines, which have been reported to be contaminated with HeLa cervical cancer cells, in Figs. 1E, 2B-D and 3B-E.

The authors have explained that the image duplications occurred due to similar experimental design and errors in figure preparation across the three articles, and stated that the images presented in Fig. 5E are correct for this study. However, due to the high number of concerns, the Editor-in-Chief no longer has confidence in the presented data.

The authors have not responded to any correspondence from the publisher about this retraction notice.