How long should a retraction take?
That’s a complex question, of course, depending on how long the alleged issues with a paper take to be investigated, whether authors — and their lawyers — fight tooth-and-nail against a retraction, and other factors. But once a university officially requests a retraction, how long should one take?
The answer, for two journals who published work by cancer researcher Anil Jaiswal, is 22 months — and counting.
More than a year ago, we reported that from August 2016 until February 2017, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, requested 22 retractions of work by Jaiswal, in which they found evidence of inappropriate image manipulation. The university had also recommended that journals retract or correct four additional articles. (Jaiswal transitioned out of research last year; he retired from the university on November 1, 2017, according to a spokesperson.)
By April 2017, Jaiswal had 15 retractions. As of today, he has 16. That’s still shy of the 22 the University of Maryland requested, and it turns out that three journals — Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, all published by the American Association for Cancer Research — have yet to do anything about seven articles the university requested be retracted. (Readers may recall a recent case in which a journal declined to retract a paper — this one by Paolo Macchiarini and colleagues — despite an institution’s request.)
The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s letter to Cancer Research was dated August 24, 2016, and requested five retractions:
- Inactivation of the quinone oxidoreductases NQO1 and NQO2 strongly elevates the incidence and multiplicity of chemically induced skin tumors.
- Disruption of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 gene in mice leads to radiation-induced myeloproliferative disease.
- Low and high dose UVB regulation of transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2
- Lower induction of p53 and decreased apoptosis in NQO1-null mice lead to increased sensitivity to chemical-induced skin carcinogenesis
- Disruption of the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) gene in mice causes myelogenous hyperplasia
It’s worth noting that all of these papers continued to be cited after August 24, 2016, anywhere from once to seven times, according to Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science.
We asked Chi Dang, the editor of Cancer Research, why the journal still hadn’t taken any action. Dang noted that he did not become editor until January of this year, so “the detailed history of this is beyond me at this time.”
However, I have been informed that several of Dr. Jaiswal’s papers will be retracted while several others are under the jurisdiction of Baylor College, which has been contacted by Cancer Research prior to our making a decision. Be assured, I treat these issues with great intensity and will dig deep into the issues and mitigate whatever that is needed. Since I have not had a chance to review the issues fully, I cannot tell you why there is a delay in retracting the papers in question other than the communication with Baylor. We believe that inclusion of the academic institutions in the dialogue is extremely important.
Baylor, however, tells Retraction Watch that the buck stops at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and that Cancer Research did not contact them until June of this year — some 21 months after the date of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, letter. According to a spokesperson:
When Dr. Anil Jaiswal left the employment of Baylor College of Medicine in July 2007, his grants transferred with him to the University of Maryland, along with all data associated with them.
We received an inquiry from Cancer Research on June 12, 2018, outlining concerns about the research associated with these grants. On June 27, 2018, our dean of research, Dr. Adam Kuspa, replied to Cancer Research that the grants had been transferred to the University of Maryland as well as all research materials supported by the two awards. As a result, we are not able to assess whether or not the allegations have substance or to open an inquiry, and he noted that any assessment, inquiry or investigation be conducted through his current awardee institution where these materials would be found.
The University of Maryland also recommended in an August 24, 2016 letter that “Aromatase Inhibitor-Mediated Downregulation of INrf2 (Keap1) Leads to Increased Nrf2 and Resistance in Breast Cancer,” published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, be retracted. It hasn’t been, and has been cited three times since the date of the letter.
And in a February 21, 2017 letter, the university requested that Clinical Cancer Research retract “NRH:quinone oxidoreductase 2-deficient mice are highly susceptible to radiation-induced B-cell lymphomas,” The paper has yet to be retracted, but it has not been cited since February 2017.
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I am encouraged so far by the responsiveness of Dr. Dang in his editorial role at AACR for the journal Cancer Research. Prior editors did not respond at all to inquiries. Thank you Dr. Dang.
Now, what was this again: ‘…concerns about the research associated with these grants.’ ?
No longer decisions on the scientific validity of a paper but of who takes the overhead on the grant?
I always use to say that a lot of journals are the first responsible for all the falsifications present in the papers. I have a really solid example for that. More than a year ago, I spotted on a journal a clear duplication in the manuscript. My expression of concern to the editorial board of the journal was ignored many times. I got a reply only from the handling editor which promised that an expression of concern will appear on the journal. Nothing happened and after other emails, editor replied that the paper will not be retracted as well not expression of concern because Karolinska investigation cleared off all the authors (all affiliated to KI). Skipping the fact that any investigation SHOULD BE PERFORMED by an external source and not the one to which the authors belong to, skipping that the try to defend the authors was pathetic and not prooved, I don`t see the reason why the journal can`t retract a paper independently from the investigation as long as they think data were manipulated (and manipulation was evident and also recognized by the handling editor). Truth is that the retraction of a paper is a damage not only for the authors but also for the journal so a lot of expression of concern brings to nothings and a lot of papers with evident data manipulation are out there untouched and uncorrected. Sad but true.
It’s all about money. The scientific value is of lower importance among publishers. This is hard to understand for journals under patient organizations like AACR. One may think that keeping the scholarly record correct would be their first priority due to advantages for scientific progress and benefit for the patients.
http://www.pnas.org/content/95/4/1511.long
A unique glucose-dependent apoptotic pathway induced by c-Myc
Hyunsuk Shim*, Yoon S. Chun*, Brian C. Lewis†, and Chi V. Dang*†‡§¶‖
*Department of Medicine, †Program in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Departments of ‡Molecular Biology and Genetics and §Pathology, and ¶The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
PNAS February 17, 1998. 95 (4) 1511-1516; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.95.4.1511
Figure 2A. https://imgur.com/JiMdKA7
Thank you for pointing this out. I have examined the figures (flow diagrams in the composite) in question, and they do seem to be replicated. Be assured that experiments we published are independently replicated. I will attempt to dig back into the records with the authors to determine how this could have happened. This was clearly an oversight – that is unacceptable. I take full responsibility for this.
http://www.jbc.org/content/275/29/21797.long
J Biol Chem. 2000 Jul 21;275(29):21797-800.
Home Current Issue Papers in Press Editors’ Picks Minireviews
Deregulation of Glucose Transporter 1 and Glycolytic Gene Expression by c-Myc*
Rebecca C. Osthus‡, Hyunsuk Shim§¶, Sunkyu Kim§‡, Qing Li§, Rahul Reddy§, Mita Mukherjee‖, Yi Xu‖, Diane Wonsey‡, Linda A. Lee§ and Chi V. Dang‡,§**
– Author Affiliations
From the ‡Program in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, §Department of Medicine, and ‖Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Figure 2A. https://imgur.com/9PyKq7T
Additional problematic data J Biol Chem. 2000 Jul 21;275(29):21797-800.
Figure 2A. https://imgur.com/G8Zdd7D
The data on TPI are what they were. If you read the science behind the data, there is no significant change in expression with MYC. Please check the literature; this finding remains to be the case. You could have picked other images as well for bands that appear identical. Unfortunately, this particular “problematic” data is probably picked up by image analysis using AI, which is imperfect. The fact that a human being posts this allegation anonymously behind the pseudonym of Fernando Pessoa is unfortunate, because it reflects that discretion using scientific knowledge and expertise was not exercised. This is shameful.
How do you explain the PFK data?
J Biol Chem. 2000 Jul 21;275(29):21797-800.
Figure 2A. https://imgur.com/G8Zdd7D
Thank you for pointing this out. The areas you highlighted in the composite figure for PFK1 do appear to have been replicated but represented as results from different experiments. This is an unacceptable lack of oversight on my part as principal investigator; I accept full responsibility. Please do note, notwithstanding this mistake, that our initial observations have been well extended and corroborated over the past two decades. But this is no excuse for poorly assembled figures. I appreciate the scrutiny and welcome any additional ones among our publications.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1535610807002334?via%3Dihub
Cancer Cell Volume 12, Issue 3, 11 September 2007, Pages 230-238
HIF-Dependent Antitumorigenic Effect of Antioxidants In Vivo
Author links Ping Gao1 Huafeng Zhang 26
Ramani Dinavahi 1 Feng Li 1 YanXiang 1 Venu Raman 45 Zaver M.Bhujwalla 45 Dean W. Felsher 8 Linzhao Cheng 6 JonathanPevsner 3 Linda A. Lee 1 Gregg L. Semenza 12467 Chi V. Dang 147
1 Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
2 Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
3 Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
4 Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
5 Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
6 Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
7 McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
8 Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
https://pubpeer.com/publications/570E89FFAE3E5DA9E772DCCC337C2B#1
I am unsure as to what the issue is. Mice bearing tumors are emaciated as illustrated in the photograph.
Immediate, long time previous editor-in-chief Cancer Res.
Cancer Res. 2004 Nov 15;64(22):8389-96.
Cyclin B1 is a critical target of RhoB in the cell suicide program triggered by farnesyl transferase inhibition.
Kamasani U1, Huang M, Duhadaway JB, Prochownik EV, Donover PS, Prendergast GC.
Author information
1
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania 19096, USA.
https://pubpeer.com/publications/82A7170E7125EE56777336B7903606
Cancer Res. 1999 May 1;59(9):2059-63.
Elevation of alpha2(I) collagen, a suppressor of Ras transformation, is required for stable phenotypic reversion by farnesyltransferase inhibitors.
Du W1, Lebowitz PF, Prendergast GC.
Author information
1
The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
https://pubpeer.com/publications/3DBB548E0C31194ED821EBA4E3FA44
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009279706001323?via%3Dihub
Chemico-Biological Interactions
Volume 162, Issue 1, 25 July 2006, Pages 81-87
Chemico-Biological Interactions
RETRACTED: Si RNA inhibition of GRP58 associated with decrease in mitomycin C-induced DNA cross-linking and cytotoxicity
Author links open overlay panelShibingSuab1Anbu KaraniAdikesavana1Anil K.Jaiswala
a
Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
b
Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Pudong, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
This article has been retracted at the request of the Office of Integrity of the University of Maryland due to data entered in Fig 3 of the publication that were not supported by raw data, in addition to the fact that the statistical evaluations were adultered.
“the statistical evaluations were adultered”??