Bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages and colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is closely related to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the predominant immune cells in the TME, facilitate proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and immunosuppression in CRC.TAMs play significant roles in both the pathological processes and therapeutic strategies of CRC. The mutual pathological mechanisms remain unclear, necessitating an in-depth study of the relationship between TAMs and CRC. This paper employs bibliometric methods to analyze TAMs and CRC research literature, aiming to assess current trends, evaluate the research status, and forecast future directions and emerging topics. Methods Publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database were searched between January 1, 2001, and July 31, 2024. Following the establishment of specific search criteria for time, publication type, and language, bibliometric analysis and data visualization were conducted using Microsoft Excel, R software, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. Results This study included 1218 publications, written by 8,302 authors from 61 countries and 1,657 institutions, published in 427 journals, covering 4,451 keywords and citing 65,174 references. During the period 2017–2023, the number of publications increased rapidly. The most published and most cited country is China. The leading research institutions were Sun Yat Sen University, Zhejiang University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, all located in China. Mantovani, Alberto, was the most prolific and cited author from Humanitas University. The primary research disciplines included molecular, biology, immunology, medicine, and genetics. Keyword co-occurrence and literature co-citation analysis identified NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-B), endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis, polarization, TME, immune response, PD-1 blockade, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and metabolism as current research hotspots and trends in this field. Conclusion This study employed bibliometric methods to comprehensively analyze and visualize research papers in TAMs and CRC published from 2001 to July 31, 2024. The objective was to assess the current research status, hotspots, and development trends in targeting TAMs for CRC, aiming to provide a reference point and information to establish TAMs as a novel driving force for CRC treatment.