Research trends in epigenetic studies on lung cancer: a bibliometric and visual analysis of the past decade

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with epigenetic mechanisms playing a pivotal role in its pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targeting. This study aims to map research trends in lung cancer epigenetics through a bibliometric analysis.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, covering publications from 2015 to 2024. Key bibliometric indicators, including publication volume, citation counts, contributing countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords, were extracted and analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R (version 4.4.1).

A total of 12,117 publications were included in the final analysis, revealing a steady increase in research output over the past decade. China led in both publication count (n=8,935) and total citations (n=218,288). Among authors, Li Y exhibited the highest H-index [50], reflecting significant academic influence. Journals such as Oncotarget (H-index =67) emerged as key contributors in terms of publication volume and citation impact. Keyword analysis demonstrated an evolution in research focus, shifting from early topics such as "microRNA expression" and "tumor suppressor" to emerging themes like "tumor microenvironment", "immune infiltration", and "metabolism".

This bibliometric analysis highlights key research directions in lung cancer epigenetics, emphasizing molecular pathways as central themes. Future studies are expected to focus increasingly on the tumor microenvironment (TME), immune regulation, and metabolic reprogramming, underscoring the dynamic nature of this field.