Crosstalk between gut microbiota and cancer chemotherapy: current status and trends

Chemotherapy is crucial in the management of tumors, but challenges such as chemoresistance and adverse reactions frequently lead to therapeutic delays or even premature cessation. A growing body of research underscores a profound connection between the gut microbiota (GM) and cancer chemotherapy (CC). This paper aims to pinpoint highly influential publications and monitor the current landscape and evolving trends within the realm of GM/CC research.

On October 1st, 2024, a comprehensive search for GM/CC publications spanning the past 20 years from 2004 to 2023 was conducted utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). The scope encompassed both articles and reviews, and the data was subsequently extracted. To gain insights into the evolution and dynamics of this research field, we employed bibliometric analysis tools such as the Bibliometrix R package, VOSviewer, and Microsoft Excel to visualize and analyze various dimensions, including prominent journals, leading authors, esteemed institutions, contributing countries/regions, highly cited papers, and frequently occurring keywords.

A total of 888 papers were obtained. The number of publications about GM/CC studies has increased gradually. China and the United States published the largest number of papers. The INSERM was in the leading position in publishers. The most productive authors were Zitvogel L from France. Cancers had the largest number of papers. Citation analysis explained the historical evolution and breakthroughs in GM/CC research. Highly cited papers and common keywords illustrated the status and trends of GM/CC research. Four clusters were identified, and the hot topics included the role of the GM in the efficacy and toxicity of CC, the targeting of the GM to improve the outcome of CC, the mechanism by which the GM affects CC, and the correlation of the GM with carcinogenesis and cancer therapy. Metabolism, GM-derived metabolites, tumor microenvironment, immunity, intestinal barrier, tumor microbiota and Fusobacterium nucleatum may become the new hotspots and trends of GM/CC research.

This study analyzed global publications and bibliometric characteristics of the links between GM and CC, identified highly cited papers in GM/CC, provided insight into the status, hotspots, and trends of global GM/CC research, and showed that the GM can be used to predict the efficacy and toxicity of CC and modifying the GM can improve the outcomes of chemotherapeutics, which may inform clinical researchers of future directions.