Retraction: Activated K-ras and INK4a/Arf Deficiency Cooperate During the Development of Pancreatic Cancer by Activation of Notch and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

After publication of this article [1], concerns were raised that lanes 1–12 of the Bcl-2 blot in Fig 3A are similar to the Notch-4 blot shown in Fig 1D, though the image appears to have been adjusted vertically and horizontally in one of the panels. The authors published a Correction [2] to address the duplication by providing an updated version of Fig 3A in which the Bcl-2 panel was replaced; raw blots supporting the new Bcl-2 data and the Notch-4 data were included in Supporting Information with the Correction.

It was subsequently raised that based on the Supporting Information file, the Bcl-2 data appear to have been stretched vertically in preparing the updated figure panel [2].

It was further noted that the IKKβ and Cyclin D1 panels appear similar in both the original and corrected versions of Fig 3A [1, 2], though one image appears stretched vertically relative to the other.

Wayne State University investigated the concerns raised about the Bcl-2/Notch-4 duplication and found evidence of data falsification. The investigating committee did not find files or documentation underlying the updated Bcl-2 blot included in the Correction or documentary support to verify that the Notch-4 and Bcl-2 data represented the indicated experiments.

In light of these concerns, and in line with the institution’s recommendation, the PLOS ONE Editors retract this article.

ASA, BB, RMM, LM, and MK agreed with the retraction. ZW, SB, AA, YL, JRG, DK, SA, JG and FHS did not respond.