Global pattern and evolution of PPARγ in breast cancer: a 25-Year bibliometric and visualized knowledge map analysis

Bibliometric methods were employed to visually examine the global trends and progression of PPARγ in the breast with the aim of clarifying the evolution of significant academic contributions, collaborative networks, foundational disciplines, and key terms. A comprehensive search was conducted on publications related to PPARγ in breast cancer research using the Web of Science Core Collection database (WOSCC) and PubMed. The reference types for the WOSCC database were restricted to articles and reviews published in English, whereas PubMed focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data visualization and analysis were conducted using bibliometric tools, including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and Scimago Graphica. Sensitivity analysis for non-deterministic indicators and bias risk assessment of RCTs were also conducted. A total of 1,391 publications and 3 RCTs were included in this study. The annual growth rate of publications in this field was 3.54%. The primary contributing countries were the United States, China, Japan, and Italy. The top three authors with the highest academic contributions were Catalano, Stefania, Bonofiglio, Daniela, and Ando, Sebastiano, which were also the most frequently cited authors. The most frequent keywords were PPARγ, breast cancer, apoptosis, and expression. This study provides the first bibliometric overview of PPARγ research in breast cancer, highlighting a continuous increase in scholarly output, with major contributions from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The discipline has gradually evolved from initial basic and preclinical studies to exploring the complex regulatory system of the "cancer - metabolism - immunity" interaction network. Currently, the effectiveness of conventional PPARγ agonists in clinical trials is still limited, highlighting the urgent need and potential for the clinical development of highly selective PPARγ modulators. This review aims to deepen our understanding of the role of PPARγ in breast cancer, support the translation of related research into clinical practice, and offer a theoretical basis and directional guidance for future advancements in this field.