Insights into the history and tendency of glycosylation and digestive system tumor: A bibliometric-based visual analysis

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

Glycosylation, a prevalent post-translational modification, exhibits heightened expression in numerous neoplastic entities, particularly within the digestive system, exerting influence over diverse cellular pathophysiological mechanisms.

Research motivation

Despite the growing prominence of the significance and detection methodologies associated with glycosylation in tumors of the digestive system in recent years, there is a notable scarcity in bibliometric analyses within this domain.

Research objectives

The present study aims to identify the developmental trends and research hotspots of glycosylation in digestive system tumors.

Research methods

We obtained relevant literature from the Web of Science Core Collection and employed VOSviewer 1.6.19 and CiteSpace (version 6.1.R6) to perform bibliometric analysis.

Research results

A total of 2042 documents spanning from 1978 to the present were analyzed, with the research process divided into three phases: the period of obscurity (1978-1990), continuous development period (1991-2006), and the rapid outbreak period (2007-2023).

Research conclusions

The bibliometric analysis presented herein imparts valuable insights into the pivotal domains and evolving trends within the study of glycosylation in digestive system cancers. The prevailing research emphasis is predominantly rooted in fundamental investigations within this domain. However, the prospective trajectory of research endeavors should pivot towards harnessing glycosylation as a targeted approach for the therapeutic intervention of tumor patients.

Research perspectives

This study addresses a lacuna in the understanding of the involvement of glycosylation in tumors of the digestive system. A thorough analysis has been conducted, encompassing aspects such as authorship, nations, journal distributions, citation patterns, and more, to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape surrounding glycosylation in the digestive system. Presently, investigations are predominantly centered on elucidating the mechanisms of glycosylation in cancer and the corresponding detection methodologies. It is anticipated that, with sustained scholarly dedication, this realm of research will progressively attain mainstream prominence in the future.