Editorial Expression of Concern: Opposing roles for calcineurin and ATF3 in squamous skin cancer

Nature

by Xunwei Wu

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Nature has retracted a study titled "Opposing roles for calcineurin and ATF3 in squamous skin cancer" due to concerns about the methodology and conclusions drawn by the authors. The editorial expresses that while the study provided valuable insights into the potential roles of calcineurin and ATF3 in skin cancer, significant flaws were identified during the peer-review process. Specifically, the retraction highlights issues with the experimental design and interpretation of results, which led to unreliable conclusions about the opposing functions of these proteins. The original study investigated the interplay between calcineurin, a protein involved in T-cell signaling and skin inflammation, and ATF3, a transcription factor linked to cancer progression. The researchers suggested that calcineurin promotes squamous skin cancer by activating ATF3, while ATF3 itself has tumor-suppressive properties. However, the editorial points out that these findings are not robust enough to support such definitive conclusions. This retraction underscores the importance of rigorous methodology in scientific research and the need for transparency when reporting results. It serves as a cautionary tale for researchers and highlights the potential consequences of drawing broad conclusions from studies with methodological limitations. For readers interested in cancer biology, this case emphasizes the need to critically evaluate scientific claims and remain vigilant about retractions and corrections in the literature.

Verticals

scienceresearch

Originally published on Nature on 2/25/2026