Weng Zhen-Hong, Chen Bin-Bin, Lin Jia-Rui, Xu Mu-Ming, Yuan Jin-Peng, Hu Hao-Kai
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University, Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Front Oncol. 2025 May 16;15:1513255. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1513255. eCollection 2025.
Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor primarily treated through surgery. Concurrently, radiation therapy has gained attention as an important local treatment modality. However, its application in gastric cancer remains limited, with ongoing debates on radiation standards. Given that bibliometrics serves as a potent tool to unveil scientific literature, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of literature on radiation therapy for gastric cancer. We explored emerging trends, common patterns in research, tracked collaborations and networks, and anticipated future directions in this clinical context.
We searched the electronic Web of Science (WOS) database using keywords "gastric cancer" and "radiation therapy" for manuscripts published in English from 2014 to 2023. Data analysis was conducted using R-Studio software, employing bibliometric methods based on the bib liometrix R package. Quantification involved assessing the most relevant authors based on document production and citation metrics. Author productivity was analyzed using Lotka's law. Main thematic areas included isolated (niche) topics, emerging topics, hot (motor) topics, and necessary (basic) topics.
A total of 2405 documents were initially retrieved, from which 484 articles closely related to gastric cancer radiation therapy were selected, showing an annual growth rate of -2.05%. Overall, publications were found in 186 different journals, with "FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY" being the most relevant journal. The most prolific authors were from South Korea. Clinical trials (survival, phase III clinical trials) and treatment strategies (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, perioperative treatment) represented the fundamental topics. Emerging topics included radiation dose, therapeutic response and immunotherapy.
Radiation therapy for gastric cancer has evolved in terms of timing, modes, target sites, and emerging combination therapies. It benefits patients with potentially resectable, unresectable, or isolated distant metastases. Immunotherapy combined with radiation shows significant potential and could become a new breakthrough in treatment strategies.
胃癌是一种常见的恶性肿瘤，主要通过手术治疗。同时，放射治疗作为一种重要的局部治疗方式受到关注。然而，其在胃癌中的应用仍然有限，关于放疗标准的争论仍在继续。鉴于文献计量学是揭示科学文献的有力工具，我们对胃癌放射治疗的文献进行了文献计量分析。我们探索了新趋势、研究中的常见模式，追踪了合作与网络，并预测了这一临床背景下的未来方向。
我们在科学网（WOS）电子数据库中使用关键词“胃癌”和“放射治疗”搜索2014年至2023年以英文发表的手稿。使用R-Studio软件进行数据分析，采用基于bibliometrix R包的文献计量方法。量化涉及根据文献产出和引用指标评估最相关的作者。使用洛特卡定律分析作者生产力。主要主题领域包括孤立（小众）主题、新兴主题、热门（核心）主题和必要（基础）主题。
最初检索到2405篇文献，从中筛选出484篇与胃癌放射治疗密切相关的文章，年增长率为-2.05%。总体而言，在186种不同期刊上发表了相关文献，其中《肿瘤前沿》是最相关的期刊。发文最多的作者来自韩国。临床试验（生存、III期临床试验）和治疗策略（手术、化疗、放疗、围手术期治疗）是基本主题。新兴主题包括放射剂量、治疗反应和免疫治疗。
胃癌放射治疗在时机、模式、靶区和新兴联合治疗方面都有所发展。它使潜在可切除、不可切除或孤立远处转移的患者受益。免疫治疗联合放疗显示出巨大潜力，可能成为治疗策略的新突破。
