Nature journals have issued multiple "Expressions of Concern" regarding published research, citing issues with image integrity and data verification. These concerns, detailed in corrections and addenda, highlight potential problems with the accuracy of published findings in the field of cancer research.
According to Nature News, an "Expression of Concern" was issued regarding a 2010 paper on transcription-independent ARF regulation in oncogenic stress-mediated p53 responses. Editors alerted readers to concerns about western blot bands in figures 1e, 3g, and 4c, where bands appeared similar. The original data could not be verified because the authors no longer had it. The authors, represented by Wei Gu, disagreed with the Expression of Concern.
Another "Expression of Concern" was issued regarding a paper on the deacetylation of p53 and its effect on cell growth and apoptosis. The editors raised concerns about the similarity of western blot bands in figure 3. As with the previous case, the original data was unavailable for verification, and the authors, also represented by Wei Gu, disagreed with the Expression of Concern.
In a separate correction, Nature News reported that a micrograph in Extended Data Fig. 8 of a paper on the genomic landscape of response to EGFR blockade in colorectal cancer was inadvertently duplicated during figure preparation. The image, intended to show phospho-ERK levels in a MAP2K1-mutant patient-derived xenograft, was accidentally overlaid with a micrograph from another figure. A corrected version of the figure is now available.
These incidents underscore the importance of data integrity in scientific research. The inability to verify original data, as in the cases of the p53 and ARF regulation papers, raises questions about the reliability of the published findings. The accidental duplication of an image, while a different type of error, also highlights the need for careful attention to detail in the preparation of scientific figures.
While the specific impact of these issues on the broader scientific community is still being assessed, the "Expressions of Concern" serve as a reminder of the need for rigorous data management and verification processes. The corrections and addenda issued by Nature aim to alert readers to potential issues and encourage caution when interpreting the affected research.
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