WIKIMEDIA, MADCOVERBOYMIT cancer biologist Robert Weinberg and his colleagues have retracted two Genes & Development papers on the role of a microRNA in breast cancer metastases. The notices reference the retraction of a third, highly cited paper published in Cell. The Scientist has not yet heard from Weinberg nor the journal regarding this apparent withdrawal.

According to two identical notices in the March issue of Genes & Development, the alleged retraction in Cell came about “because original data were compiled from different replicate experiments in order to assemble certain figure panels. As the same analytical methodology was used in this [Genes & Development] manuscript, we believe that the responsible course of action is to retract the article.”

The retracted 2011 Genes & Development paper has been cited 78 times, while the 2009 paper in the same journal has been cited 96 times.

The 2009 Cell study...