Nature, a leading scientific journal, has issued multiple "Expressions of Concern" regarding published research, citing issues with image duplication and data verification. These concerns, detailed in recent publications, highlight potential problems with the accuracy and reliability of previously published findings.
According to Nature News, one "Expression of Concern" relates to a 2010 paper concerning transcription-independent ARF regulation in oncogenic stress-mediated p53 responses. Editors alerted readers to concerns about the similarity of western blot bands in Figs. 1e, 3g, and 4c. Specifically, the ULF bands between lanes 1 and 4 in Fig. 3g, as well as the three ARF bands between lanes 2 and 4 in Fig. 1e and lanes 1 and 3 in Fig. 4c, appeared similar. The authors no longer possessed the original data to verify the images, and readers were advised to interpret the results with caution. The authors, represented by Wei Gu, disagreed with the "Expression of Concern."
Another "Expression of Concern," also reported by Nature News, addressed a paper on the deacetylation of p53 and its effect on cell growth and apoptosis, published in 2000. Concerns were raised regarding the similarity of western blot bands for total p53 in Fig. 3, specifically panels b and c. As with the previous case, the original data was unavailable for verification. The authors, again represented by Wei Gu, disagreed with the concerns.
In a separate instance, Nature published a correction to a 2015 article on the genomic landscape of response to EGFR blockade in colorectal cancer. A micrograph in Extended Data Fig. 8 was inadvertently duplicated during figure preparation. The image, intended to show phospho-ERK levels in a MAP2K1-mutant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) exposed to the MEK inhibitor AZD6244 (AZD), was accidentally overlaid with a micrograph from Extended Data Fig. 10. A corrected version of Extended Data Fig. 8 is now available.
These actions by Nature underscore the journal's commitment to scientific integrity and the importance of data verification. The inability to verify original data in the first two cases highlights the challenges of maintaining research integrity over time. While the authors in the first two cases disagreed with the concerns, the journal's editorial actions serve as a reminder of the need for careful scrutiny and the potential for errors in scientific publications.
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