Global trends and translational evolution of regulatory T cell research in gastric cancer: a bibliometric mapping (2005-2025).
- 1Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.
- 2Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer and have attracted increasing attention in the context of immunotherapy. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive bibliometric overview of global research on Tregs in gastric cancer from 2005 to 2025 and to identify evolving thematic trends. Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using a predefined search strategy. A total of 464 English-language publications, including articles and reviews, were included. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the bibliometrix R package, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace to assess publication trends, country and institutional productivity, collaboration patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and citation bursts. The 50 most-cited publications were further analyzed to identify high-impact thematic focuses. Annual publication output demonstrated a sustained increase over the past two decades, with notable growth after 2015. China contributed the highest number of publications, Japan showed the highest citation impact per article, and the United States occupied a central position in international collaboration networks. Keyword clustering identified three major research themes: Treg biology and prognosis, immunotherapy-related research, and Helicobacter pylori-associated immunomodulation. Temporal and citation-burst analyses revealed an increasing emphasis on immune checkpoint blockade and translational immunotherapy in recent years. This bibliometric study systematically characterizes the global research landscape of Tregs in gastric cancer and highlights a progressive shift from mechanistic and prognostic studies toward immunotherapy-oriented and translational research. The findings also identify key future priorities, including standardized characterization of Treg subsets, validation of Treg-related biomarkers, and integration of spatial and multi-omics approaches with patient-level clinical outcomes.
Related
- Translational trends and specific nutritional interventions for aromatase inhibitor induced bone loss based on a 25 year multi database bibliometric and thematic evolution analysis from 2000 to 2025
- Artificial intelligence in eating disorder research: a scoping review with bibliometric analysis of trends, methodologies, and translational readiness (2016-2025).
- A bibliometric analysis of trace elements and diabetic kidney disease: scientific hotspots and research evolution.
- Research Trends, Knowledge Evolution and Pharmacological Advances of Cordyceps cicadae: A Bibliometric Analysis
- A bibliometric evolution of molecular mechanisms and emerging research trends of therapeutic resistance in oral cancer.
BibTeX
@article{tu2026global,
title = {{Global trends and translational evolution of regulatory T cell research in gastric cancer: a bibliometric mapping (2005-2025).}},
author = {Houshu Tu and Menglin Chen and Panpan Zhu and Jing Hong and Ling He},
journal = {Translational cancer research},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.21037/tcr-2026-0878},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997897},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Global trends and translational evolution of regulatory T cell research in gastric cancer: a bibliometric mapping (2005-2025).
AU - Houshu Tu
AU - Menglin Chen
AU - Panpan Zhu
AU - Jing Hong
AU - Ling He
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/28
JO - Translational cancer research
DO - 10.21037/tcr-2026-0878
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42997897
AB - Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer and have attracted increasing attention in the context of immunotherapy. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive bibliometric overview of global research on Tregs in gastric cancer from 2005 to 2025 and to identify evolving thematic trends. Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using a predefined search strategy. A total of 464 English-language publications, including articles and reviews, were included. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the bibliometrix R package, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace to assess publication trends, country and institutional productivity, collaboration patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and citation bursts. The 50 most-cited publications were further analyzed to identify high-impact thematic focuses. Annual publication output demonstrated a sustained increase over the past two decades, with notable growth after 2015. China contributed the highest number of publications, Japan showed the highest citation impact per article, and the United States occupied a central position in international collaboration networks. Keyword clustering identified three major research themes: Treg biology and prognosis, immunotherapy-related research, and Helicobacter pylori-associated immunomodulation. Temporal and citation-burst analyses revealed an increasing emphasis on immune checkpoint blockade and translational immunotherapy in recent years. This bibliometric study systematically characterizes the global research landscape of Tregs in gastric cancer and highlights a progressive shift from mechanistic and prognostic studies toward immunotherapy-oriented and translational research. The findings also identify key future priorities, including standardized characterization of Treg subsets, validation of Treg-related biomarkers, and integration of spatial and multi-omics approaches with patient-level clinical outcomes.
SN - 2218-676X
SN - 2219-6803
ER -