Paper touted by MD Anderson gets expression of concern for data ‘concerns’
Science Translational Medicine has issued an expression of concern over “a series” of data concerns in a paper lauded by MD Anderson Cancer Center last year for identifying “a new driver” of bone metastasis. The article, published in May 2025, has been the subject of a long and growing thread on PubPeer since April, where … Continue reading Paper touted by MD Anderson gets expression of concern…
In May 2025, a paper published in Science Translational Medicine identified a protein that plays a role in bone metastasis, earning praise from MD Anderson Cancer Center. However, the paper has faced significant criticism, leading to an expression of concern from the journal. Over 20 authors, mostly from MD Anderson and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, authored the study.
The journal's issues stem from duplicated images and misplaced figures, which critics found statistically extraordinary. After the journal issued a correction in June 2026, further concerns were raised on PubPeer throughout 2026. The editors decided to issue an expression of concern due to these accumulated concerns. The work was funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health, with one of the institutions on the department's restricted list.
While the authors have attempted to address the concerns, none have been reached for comment. MD Anderson initially highlighted the paper's findings, which included two potential therapeutic strategies for halting bone metastasis.
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