A bibliometric analysis of optogenetics in cancer research based on the web of science core collection

To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the research literature on optogenetics in the field of cancer.

A literature search and screening were performed using the query "ALL FIELD = (Cancer) AND ALL FIELD = (Optogenetics)" in the Core Collection database of Web of Science. Bibliometric analyses at the levels of country, institution, journal, author, and keyword were carried out using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometrix online platform. Additionally, co-citation and keyword clustering analyses were performed.

A total of 304 articles published between 2009 and September 2025 (including early online and pending publications) were identified, sourced from 146 different journals. The average publication time was 4.7 years, with an average citation count of 44.76 per article. A total of 791 unique author keywords were identified, corresponding to 2,215 distinct authors, including one single-author article. The analysis reveals that research on optogenetics in cancer remains vibrant, with a consistent increase in publication volume over the years. Research is primarily concentrated in economically advanced countries such as the United States and China. High-impact journals, such as Nature Communications, publish the majority of these studies. Leading authors are primarily from China and the United States, with research hotspots emerging in recent years. "Optogenetics" has emerged as the dominant keyword, with research topics shifting from early studies on optical control to more recent areas, such as engineered bacteria and differentiation.

Current research trends in optogenetics and cancer focus on engineered bacteria, differentiation, and the exploration of cellular signaling mechanisms. Future research should prioritize the development of optogenetic cancer cell models and the investigation of underlying cellular pathway mechanisms. Moreover, future studies integrating optogenetic control with immunotherapeutic strategies may offer transformative advances in cancer treatment.