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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
A Minimally Invasive Method for Generating a Syngeneic Orthotopic Mouse Model of Lung Cancer
Published on: August 19, 2025
From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Innovation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Knowledge-Depth Translational Mapping with
1Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) research has transitioned from tumor-intrinsic mechanisms to immune-driven therapeutic innovation; however, the translation of mechanistic insights into clinically actionable strategies remains incompletely defined.
Methods:
A total of 1213 records were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (SCI-Expanded) (2009-2025). After data cleaning and duplicate removal (n = 13), 1200 publications were analyzed. Bibliometrix (R) and CiteSpace were used for performance analysis, keyword mapping, thematic evolution, and co-citation clustering.
Results:
Annual scientific production increased markedly after 2018, paralleling the expansion of immunotherapy. Keyword co-occurrence identified three major thematic domains (>40 high-frequency keywords) linking molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic strategies. Thematic mapping highlighted immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment, and PD-1 as dominant motor themes, while resistance-related pathways formed a central mechanistic-translational axis. Thematic evolution demonstrated a shift from EGFR-targeted therapy to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-centered resistance and subsequently to immune-dominant strategies. Co-citation clustering produced robust structures (Q ≈ 0.62; silhouette ≈ 0.84), identifying EMT as a persistent mechanistic hub. Pilot ELISA validation confirmed significant increases in TGF-β1 (~2.05-fold), IL-6 (~2.59-fold), CCL2 (~2.10-fold), and PD-L1 (~2.56-fold) under EMT-inducing conditions (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
This integrative approach provides a quantitative and experimentally supported framework linking mechanistic insights to therapeutic innovation in NSCLC.
Insights
Non-small-cell lung cancer research is shifting towards immunotherapy. This study maps key themes, revealing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a central resistance mechanism and a target for novel therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) research is evolving from intrinsic tumor mechanisms to immune-based therapies.
- Translating NSCLC research findings into effective clinical strategies remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the evolution of NSCLC research themes and identify key mechanistic-therapeutic links.
- To map the landscape of NSCLC research, focusing on immunotherapy and resistance mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of 1200 publications from 2009-2025 using Web of Science.
- Performance analysis, keyword mapping, thematic evolution, and co-citation clustering with Bibliometrix and CiteSpace.
- ELISA validation of key biomarkers under epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) inducing conditions.
Main Results:
- Scientific output increased significantly post-2018, coinciding with immunotherapy expansion.
- Three major themes emerged: molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutics, with immunotherapy and tumor microenvironment as dominant drivers.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was identified as a persistent mechanistic hub and a key factor in resistance, with associated biomarkers like TGF-β1, IL-6, CCL2, and PD-L1 showing significant increases.
Conclusions:
- An integrative, quantitative framework links NSCLC mechanistic insights to therapeutic innovation.
- The study provides experimental support for targeting EMT-related pathways in NSCLC treatment.
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