A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the predominant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), facilitate proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and immunosuppression in colorectal cancer (CRC). The mutual pathological mechanisms remain unclear, necessitating an...

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Main Authors: Yadi Gao, Weichen Yuan, Jiexiang Zhang, Zhiwei Wang, Wenwen Cui, Zhongan Guan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2512656
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author Yadi Gao
Weichen Yuan
Jiexiang Zhang
Zhiwei Wang
Wenwen Cui
Zhongan Guan
author_facet Yadi Gao
Weichen Yuan
Jiexiang Zhang
Zhiwei Wang
Wenwen Cui
Zhongan Guan
author_sort Yadi Gao
collection DOAJ
description Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the predominant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), facilitate proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and immunosuppression in colorectal cancer (CRC). The mutual pathological mechanisms remain unclear, necessitating an in-depth study of the relationship between TAMs and CRC. This paper employs bibliometric methods to analyze TAMs and CRC research literature, aiming to assess current trends, evaluate the research status, and forecast future directions and emerging topics. We searched for publications published in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database from January 1, 2001 to July 31, 2024. Following the establishment of specific search criteria for time, publication type, and language, bibliometric analysis and data visualization were conducted using Microsoft Excel, R software, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. A total of 1,218 publications authored by 8,302 researchers across 61 countries and 1,657 institutions were analyzed. They were published in 427 journals, covering 4,451 keywords and citing 65,174 references. Keyword co-occurrence and literature co-citation analysis identified nuclear factor kappa-B, endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis, polarization, TME, immune response, programmed cell death protein 1 blockade, and metabolism as current research hotspots and trends in this field. Immune therapy and cancer-associated fibroblasts are key research areas, with the potential for further exploration of their mechanisms and targeted therapies. This paper employs bibliometric methods to comprehensively analyze and visualize research papers in TAMs and CRC. It analyzes the TAM-targeting research landscape in CRC, mapping current frontiers and translational potential to position TAMs as a promising immunotherapeutic strategy.
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spelling doaj-art-3f71fc580ef04d4d80dfeff0c74466342025-08-20T03:25:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2025-12-0121110.1080/21645515.2025.2512656A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer researchYadi Gao0Weichen Yuan1Jiexiang Zhang2Zhiwei Wang3Wenwen Cui4Zhongan Guan5The First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaUrology Centre, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaTrauma Center, Binzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Binzhou, ChinaColorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaColorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, ChinaTumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the predominant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), facilitate proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and immunosuppression in colorectal cancer (CRC). The mutual pathological mechanisms remain unclear, necessitating an in-depth study of the relationship between TAMs and CRC. This paper employs bibliometric methods to analyze TAMs and CRC research literature, aiming to assess current trends, evaluate the research status, and forecast future directions and emerging topics. We searched for publications published in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database from January 1, 2001 to July 31, 2024. Following the establishment of specific search criteria for time, publication type, and language, bibliometric analysis and data visualization were conducted using Microsoft Excel, R software, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. A total of 1,218 publications authored by 8,302 researchers across 61 countries and 1,657 institutions were analyzed. They were published in 427 journals, covering 4,451 keywords and citing 65,174 references. Keyword co-occurrence and literature co-citation analysis identified nuclear factor kappa-B, endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis, polarization, TME, immune response, programmed cell death protein 1 blockade, and metabolism as current research hotspots and trends in this field. Immune therapy and cancer-associated fibroblasts are key research areas, with the potential for further exploration of their mechanisms and targeted therapies. This paper employs bibliometric methods to comprehensively analyze and visualize research papers in TAMs and CRC. It analyzes the TAM-targeting research landscape in CRC, mapping current frontiers and translational potential to position TAMs as a promising immunotherapeutic strategy.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2512656Tumor-associated macrophagescolorectal cancerbibliometricsresearch trendshot spots
spellingShingle Yadi Gao
Weichen Yuan
Jiexiang Zhang
Zhiwei Wang
Wenwen Cui
Zhongan Guan
A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Tumor-associated macrophages
colorectal cancer
bibliometrics
research trends
hot spots
title A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research
title_full A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research
title_fullStr A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research
title_full_unstemmed A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research
title_short A two-decade bibliometric analysis of tumor-associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research
title_sort two decade bibliometric analysis of tumor associated macrophages in colorectal cancer research
topic Tumor-associated macrophages
colorectal cancer
bibliometrics
research trends
hot spots
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2025.2512656
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