In 2012 the journal was informed of apparent flaws in Figure 2 of Qi-Ling Li, Ning Bu, Yue-Cheng Yu, Wei Hua and Xiao-Yan Xin. Exvivo experiments of human ovarian cancer ascites-derived exosomes presented by dendritic cells derived from umbilical cord blood for immunotherapy treatment. Clinical Medicine: Oncology. 2008;2;461–7. doi: 10.4137/CMO.S776. The journal commenced an investigation in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.1
The journal was unable to complete a full investigation in accordance with the guidelines. In view of this, the journal must emphasise that no conclusions have been drawn on responsibility for the apparent flaws. In accordance with COPE guidelines the journal has published this expression of concern and recommends that readers interpret Figure 2 with caution.
1. Committee on Publication Ethics. What to do if you suspect fabricated data (b) Suspected fabricated data in a published article. May 2011. Available at: http://publicationethics.org/files/u7140/Flowchart%20Fabricated%20B%20revised.pdf. Accessed Mar 2013.