A global bibliometric map of Mendelian randomization in lung cancer research: trends, themes, and emerging risks

Although Mendelian randomization (MR) studies on lung cancer (LC) have grown significantly, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis remains lacking. This study addresses that gap by examining global research trends, leading contributors, and emerging themes in MR related to LC.

We conducted a bibliometric analysis of publications from 2005 to 2024, using data from the Web of Science Core Collection. Research trends, collaboration networks, and key themes were visualized with VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package 'bibliometrix'.

The analysis included 332 publications by 2,797 researchers across 50 countries. A notable increase in studies occurred after 2017, with China, the United States, and England as the top contributors. Key institutions included the University of Bristol and Nanjing Medical University. The most productive journals were Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention and International Journal of Epidemiology, while Nature Genetics was the most cited. The research identified multiple causal pathways for LC linked to inflammation, genetics, lifestyle factors, lung diseases, and psychiatric conditions. Emerging themes include the roles of gut microbiota, schizophrenia, C-reactive protein, and asthma in LC development.

This bibliometric analysis of MR studies on LC highlights global research trends and emerging areas, particularly the roles of gut microbiota, schizophrenia, and inflammation in LC risk. These insights lay a strong foundation for advancing personalized prevention and treatment in future MR studies.