Retraction to: Leukemia (2008) 22, 1234–1240; doi:10.1038/leu.2008.68; published online 10 April 2008

The authors of the above article would like to retract it due to an inaccuracy in Figure 5. The remainder of the data presented is sound and fully supports the scientific conclusions of the paper. Dr Francesca Messa, a biologist of the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, has admitted to intentionally providing false confocal images (Figure 5a and b). Professor G Saglio states categorically that the other authors of this paper were not involved in or aware of these events.

The authors apologize to the readers, reviewers, and editors of Leukemia for publishing these erroneous images.