Journal retracts 2018 bone cancer paper following image manipulation

The journal Pathology and Oncology Research formally retracted a 2018 osteosarcoma study on 13 August 2026, Bioengineer.org reported. The decision followed a request from the authors of the paper, who acknowledged that experimental images in a key figure were improperly cropped. [1]

The original study claimed that Sox2, a stem cell related gene, suppresses the invasiveness of osteosarcoma cells through a known developmental signaling pathway. Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer. According to Bioengineer.org, an internal investigation conducted under the policies of the journal confirmed that the main findings of the research are no longer valid. [1]

The retraction highlights ongoing concerns regarding research integrity in cancer biology. Images, which serve as visual representations of experimental evidence, can be altered through digital or mechanical means, as general documentation shows. Pluripotent stem cell research often examines genetic factors like transcription factors, which regulate cell development and reprogram somatic cells. [1][2][4]

The retraction notice officially removes the reliance on the 2018 findings, ensuring that future bone cancer research does not rely on the compromised data. [1]