INTRODUCTION: Anti-angiogenic therapy has demonstrated therapeutic potential for several malignancies; however, its clinical efficacy in gastric cancer (GC) remains limited. To better understand the evolution of this field, comprehensive bibliometric analysis is required to map research trends, identify key contributors, and highlight emerging hotspots.
AIM: This study aimed to systematically map the research landscape of anti-angiogenic therapy for gastric cancer and identify key trends, hotspots, and emerging fronts using a bibliometric analysis.
METHOD: Publications related to anti-angiogenic therapy in GC were retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) within the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), covering 2000 to 2024. Microsoft Excel 365 was used to plot annual publication trends. VOSviewer was used to construct collaboration networks between countries/regions, institutions, authors, and co-cited references. CiteSpace was used to conduct keyword co-occurrence and burst analysis.
RESULTS: In total, 916 publications were identified, comprising 698 articles and 218 reviews. The annual output increased steadily after 2003, peaking at 63 publications by 2021. China was the most productive country, followed by the USA, and both countries demonstrated a close collaborative relationship. The leading publishing institutions are primarily Chinese, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing Medical University, and Sun Yat-sen University. The most productive authors were Masakazu Yashiro, followed by Giuseppe Aprile, and Jin Li. The co-citation analysis identified landmark references by Fuchs (Lancet 383:31-39, 2014, 153 citations), Wilke (Lancet Oncol 15:1224-1235, 2014, 143 citations), and Ohtsu (J Clin Oncol 29:3968-3976, 2011, 133 citations) as central to the field. Keyword analysis revealed that early research has focused on "gastric cancer," "angiogenesis," and "bevacizumab." More recent hotspots shifted toward targeted therapy and clinical trial terminology, such as "first-line therapy," "randomized phase III," "supportive care," and "chemotherapy." Citation burst analysis highlighted emerging strategies, with frequent bursts for "nivolumab," "open label," and "plus chemotherapy," reflecting the integration of immunotherapy and multimodal regimens.
CONCLUSION: This bibliometric mapping provides a comprehensive overview of global research on anti-angiogenic therapy for GC from 2000 to 2024. These findings delineate influential contributors, evolving research priorities, and emerging therapeutic strategies, and offer valuable guidance for future basic and clinical studies in this rapidly advancing field.
