Global Trends in Secondary Metabolite Research for Lung Cancer: A Bibliometric Analysis
TL;DR
A bibliometric overview of research on lung cancer and secondary metabolites highlights their potential role in improving cancer management and their biological properties may contribute to supportive care by reducing treatment-related toxicity and enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to provide a bibliometric overview of research on lung cancer and secondary metabolites, with a focus on their potential relevance to supportive care and treatment-related outcomes.Methods: Publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 2020 and 2025 were identified using the frequency of the keywords “lung cancer AND secondary metabolite.” After applying exclusion criteria, 179 original research articles were analyzed. Bibliometric analyses, including collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and citation patterns, were performed using VOSviewer.Results: The number of publications showed a gradual increase, peaking in 2024. India was the most productive country, while the USA demonstrated the highest level of international collaboration. Frequently identified keywords included cytotoxicity, anticancer activity, and secondary metabolites. The findings indicate a strong research focus on the biological and therapeutic effects of secondary metabolites, particularly their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties.Conclusions: The growing interest in secondary metabolites highlights their potential role in improving cancer management. Their biological properties may contribute to supportive care by reducing treatment-related toxicity and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Further clinical and translational studies are needed to clarify their role in supportive oncology.