Relationship between breast cancer and metformin: A bibliometric review

A complex relationship exists between diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer. Metformin can help reduce the incidence of cancer and the risk of death in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This study utilized bibliometrics to analyze the potential impact of diabetes drugs on the treatment of breast cancer, aiming to reveal research trends and provide references for future research directions.

This bibliometric study analyzed the intersection of diabetes, breast cancer, and metformin using data from the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed (2004-2024). A total of 1080 relevant publications were included.

An initial slow growth in publications was noted, followed by a surge starting in 2008. The USA and China led these research efforts, with Goodwin PJ having the highest number of publications. The journal Diabetes Care was the most co-cited, with keywords such as "breast cancer," "risk," "metformin," and "growth" frequently appearing. The analysis identified 4036 institutions and 5214 active authors in the field.

Despite growing attention to the role of diabetes medications such as metformin in breast cancer treatment, research remains limited to mechanistic studies and retrospective clinical analyses. The optimal dose for clinical use remains unclear, which highlights the need for further experimental studies. This study provides valuable insights for both academic and clinical research, supporting the potential use of metformin to manage the relationship between diabetes and breast cancer.