A bibliometric analysis of trends and hotspots in autophagy in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND

Autophagy plays a critical role in the biology of gastric cancer (GC), influencing tumor progression, drug resistance, and treatment outcomes. This study aims to analyze the bibliometric landscape of autophagy research in GC, identifying key contributors, influential publications, and emerging research themes.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection, encompassing studies published from 1977 to 2024. Bibliometric analysis was performed utilizing VOSviewer 1.6.20, CiteSpace 6.3.R1, and the R package "bibliometrix" to visualize patterns in co-authorship, institutional collaborations, citations, keyword co-occurrences, and emerging research trends.

RESULTS

A total of 1179 articles on autophagy in GC were identified, reflecting a steady annual growth rate of 10.5%. China accounted for 77.7% of the publications, with Nanjing Medical University emerging as the leading institution. Collaboration networks revealed limited international partnerships, with a predominant focus on regional research efforts. Zhang L and Zhang X were recognized as the most prolific and impactful authors, while journals such as Cell Death & Disease and Oncology Reports were identified as prominent publication venues. Emerging research hotspots included autophagy-mediated drug resistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and the roles of long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in regulating autophagy.

CONCLUSION

This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of global research on autophagy in gastric cancer, highlighting key contributors, institutions, and journals. Emerging research areas encompass the role of autophagy in drug sensitivity, the inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and the formulation of anti-tumor therapeutic strategies.