Research Trends in Acupuncture for Cancer Pain: A Bibliometric Analysis

Approximately 44% of cancer patients experience pain, with over 50% affected in advanced stages. Opioid therapy, though standard, carries significant side effects. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese therapy, has shown potential in relieving cancer pain with minimal adverse reactions. This study used bibliometric methods to identify research hotspots and frontiers in acupuncture for cancer pain. Publications (2010-2025) were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, and Scopus. CiteSpace 6.4.R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 were used for bibliometric and thematic analysis, examining countries, institutions, authors, journals, co-cited references, and keywords. The literature selection process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 2,139 publications were included, showing an overall increasing trend. China led in publication volume; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) was the most productive institution; J. Mao was the most productive author; and J Clin Oncol was the most cited journal. Core keywords included "acupuncture", "breast cancer", "pain", "quality of life", "management", "cancer pain", and "electroacupuncture". Cluster analysis generated 15 thematic clusters. Emerging themes included acupoint stimulation, complementary therapies, symptom management, integrative medicine, and clinical evaluation. This study maps 16-year trends in acupuncture for cancer pain, revealing collaborations, hotspots, and emerging directions to guide future research.