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Translational progress and bottlenecks in neurotransmitter-cancer research [2000-2025]: an integrated bibliometric

Ming Zhang1, Weihao Sun1, Yizhao Ma1

  • 1Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Translational Cancer Research
|May 25, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Neurotransmitter research in oncology is rapidly growing but faces significant translation challenges. Future efforts should focus on combining SSRIs with immunotherapy and exploring new pathways to improve cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Translational Cancer Research
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Neurotransmitter signaling plays a crucial role in cancer initiation, progression, and treatment response.
  • Understanding the interplay between neurotransmitters and cancer is vital for developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically characterize the intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and translational trajectory of neurotransmitter-cancer research.
  • To assess translational activity, drug-class distribution, and trial design trends in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Bibliometric analysis of 2,823 Web of Science articles (2000-2025) using CiteSpace and Bibliometrix.
  • Review of 76 interventional trials from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Main Results:

  • Annual publication output nearly tripled, with over 50% of papers published after 2020.
  • The US leads in productivity, while China shows rapid growth.
  • Oncology trials focused on beta-adrenergic antagonists, HDAC inhibitors, SSRIs, and dopamine modulators; immunotherapy combinations increased post-2018.
  • Limited translational linkage between publications and trials was observed, with a high prevalence of early-phase trials and heterogeneity in design.

Conclusions:

  • Neurotransmitter-cancer research shows rapid expansion but significant translational attrition.
  • Continued evaluation of beta-blockers and prioritized testing of SSRI-immunotherapy combinations are recommended.
  • Harmonized preclinical-to-clinical pipelines and accelerated biomarker development are crucial for improving translation in neurotransmitter-directed oncology.
Keywords:
Neurotransmitter signalingcancer biologyneuroimmune interactionsprecision medicine

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