Li Rulin, Yang Yanchun, Gao Yang, Lv Jing, Dai Chuanqiang, Zhai Yuanwei, Mao Chirong, Jiang Jiudong, Fan Jiangang, Yu Yang, Wu Liang, Lin Zhiwu
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ziyang Central Hospital, Ziyang, 641300, China.
Department of Orthopedics, Ziyang Central Hospital, Ziyang, 641300, China.
Discov Oncol. 2025 Apr 24;16(1):609. doi: 10.1007/s12672-025-02376-8.
This study aimed to delineate the evolving knowledge structure of programmed cell death in esophageal cancer and identify key thematic trends, influential collaborations, and emerging areas for future research.
A bibliometric approach was applied to 2677 publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (2000-2024). Three complementary tools-CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and bibliometrix-were employed to visualize co-citation networks, detect citation bursts, and map collaborative patterns among authors, institutions, and countries. Inclusion criteria focused on articles and reviews that addressed esophageal cancer in conjunction with apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy, or related pathways.
Publication outputs grew markedly, reflecting a shift from early investigations of basic apoptotic mechanisms to broader explorations of necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. China led in publication volume and citations, driven by substantial governmental funding and large clinical cohorts. The United States and Japan also contributed significantly, forming international research networks that spanned Asia and Europe. Leading institutions, particularly Zhengzhou University, demonstrated extensive collaborations. Journals such as Oncology Letters and Oncology Reports were prominent outlets for new findings, while highly cited references highlighted hypoxia, immune checkpoint blockade, and emerging gene-editing strategies. Keyword analyses revealed the ascendance of immuno-oncology, network pharmacology, and translational applications targeting multiple regulated cell death pathways.
Bibliometric evidence underscores a rapid expansion of multidisciplinary research that integrates diverse cell death pathways in esophageal cancer. Continued international collaborations, leveraging advanced genomics and immunologic strategies, are poised to accelerate translational breakthroughs and enable more personalized, effective therapies.
本研究旨在描绘食管癌中程序性细胞死亡不断演变的知识结构，并确定关键的主题趋势、有影响力的合作以及未来研究的新兴领域。
对从科学网核心合集（2000 - 2024年）检索到的2677篇出版物应用文献计量学方法。使用三种互补工具——CiteSpace、VOSviewer和bibliometrix——来可视化共被引网络、检测引用爆发，并绘制作者、机构和国家之间的合作模式。纳入标准集中于结合细胞凋亡、坏死性凋亡、焦亡、铁死亡、自噬或相关途径论述食管癌的文章和综述。
出版物产出显著增长，反映出从早期对基本凋亡机制的研究转向对坏死性凋亡、焦亡和铁死亡的更广泛探索。中国在出版物数量和引用方面领先，这得益于大量的政府资金和庞大的临床队列。美国和日本也做出了重大贡献，形成了跨越亚洲和欧洲的国际研究网络。领先机构，特别是郑州大学，展示了广泛的合作。《肿瘤学快报》和《肿瘤学报告》等期刊是新发现的重要发表渠道，而高被引参考文献突出了缺氧、免疫检查点阻断和新兴的基因编辑策略。关键词分析揭示了免疫肿瘤学、网络药理学以及针对多种调控细胞死亡途径的转化应用的兴起。
文献计量学证据强调了多学科研究的快速扩展，该研究整合了食管癌中多种细胞死亡途径。持续的国际合作，利用先进的基因组学和免疫策略，有望加速转化突破，并实现更个性化、有效的治疗。
