Crosstalk Between Oral Microbiome and Cancer: Emerging Trends and Insights

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Oncology
• Bibliometrics
• Scientific Literature Analysis

Background:

• Emerging evidence links the oral microbiome (OM) to cancer (CA).
• Understanding the OM/CA relationship is crucial for advancing cancer research.
• This study provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific output in this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the scientific literature on the oral microbiome and cancer.
• To identify highly cited articles, research hotspots, and emerging trends in OM/CA studies.
• To offer insights into the current state and future directions of OM/CA research.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed on January 25, 2025, using terms for oral microbiome and cancer.
• Data from 1663 retrieved papers were analyzed using Biblioshiny, Excel, and VOSviewer.
• Co-citation analysis was employed to map the conceptual structure and identify influential publications.

Main Results:

• OM/CA research has significantly increased from 2010 to 2024, with the US and China leading in publications.
• Key institutions include Karolinska Institutet and Harvard University; Tina Dalianis and Anders Naesman are prolific authors.
• Emerging hotspots include machine learning applications, biofilm formation, and the roles of specific bacteria like *Fusobacterium nucleatum* and *Porphyromonas gingivalis*.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric analysis maps the quantitative characteristics of global OM/CA research.
• Pivotal papers, current trends, and emerging research frontiers in OM/CA have been identified.
• The findings provide valuable perspectives for researchers and clinicians in the OM/CA field.