Researchers in China have retracted a 2016 cancer imaging paper because they introduced “a plethora of data errors” while preparing the article for submission.
Although the retraction notice provides no details on what these errors are or how exactly they occurred, it does point the finger at the researchers, explaining that the data errors happened as a result of their “negligence.”
Here’s the 2017 retraction notice for “Rituximab-conjugated, doxorubicin-loaded microbubbles as a theranostic modality in B-cell lymphoma,” published November 25, 2016 in Oncotarget:
Due to the authors’ negligence during the preparation of this manuscript for submission, it contains a plethora of data errors. Authors sincerely apologize for their mistakes and wish to retract their manuscript.
We reached out to corresponding author Cailian Wang, from Zhongda Hospital in China, for more information about how these data errors were introduced. We also contacted the journal’s two editors-in-chief, Andrei Gudkov and Mikhail Blagosklonny, both cancer researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in New York, but have not heard back.
Oncotarget was on the now-defunct list of possible predatory journals compiled by librarian Jeffrey Beall.
The 2016 paper, which explored an imaging strategy that could provide early diagnosis of B-cell lymphomas, has not yet been indexed by Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science, formerly part of Thomson Reuters.
Hat Tip: Rolf Degen
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Only one plethora? 🙂