Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40471505›Full record

ReviewDiscover oncology2025

Network analysis used to investigate the symptoms of cancer patients during chemotherapy: a scoping review.

Xiaodan Shao, Na Wang, Ke Tang, Kunning Wang, Zhangyan Tan, Jiangxiu Xie, Zhiwei Shen, Yuting Jiang, Yan Zhang

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Discover oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Symptoms experienced during the first 4 months of chemotherapy administration: a longitudinal cohort study in an Australian cancer treatment unit.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  3. Symptom clusters and network analysis in lung cancer patients receiving taxane-based chemotherapy: a comprehensive assessment using the CIPNAT multi-scale tool.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Xiaodan ShaoSchool of Nursing, University of South China, No. 28, Changsheng West Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Na WangSchool of Nursing, University of South China, No. 28, Changsheng West Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Ke TangSchool of Nursing, University of South China, No. 28, Changsheng West Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Kunning WangInstitute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Zhangyan TanDepartment of Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Jiangxiu XieDepartment of Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Zhiwei ShenInstitute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Yuting JiangInstitute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Yan ZhangSchool of Nursing, University of South China, No. 28, Changsheng West Road, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China. zhangyan@usc.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo provide an overview of the symptom experience and interrelationships among symptoms during chemotherapy in cancer patients, as well as the state of symptom network research in this field.

methodsThis scoping review was conducted using the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA guidelines. It included studies that focused on symptom network analysis of cancer patients currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. A comprehensive search was conducted in both English and Chinese databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science, ProQuest, CNKI, VIPC, and CSPD, up to September 10, 2024.Studies were included if they involved cancer patients aged ≥ 18 years undergoing chemotherapy and excluded those involving radiotherapy. Data were extracted based on study characteristics, cancer types, sample characteristics, treatment, study design, instruments, R packages used, core symptoms, and main findings.

resultsFrom 8948 initial articles, 12 studies were included. These studies varied in sample size, symptom survey instruments, and methods of symptom categorization. Six studies extracted symptom clusters, and core symptoms were identified in eight studies. Fatigue was commonly reported as a core symptom across different cancer types. The longitudinal study indicated that overall symptoms peaked after the initial chemotherapy session and gradually decreased with subsequent cycles, although some symptoms like skin changes and neuropathy worsened over time.

conclusionsSymptom network analysis offers insights into the complex interplay of symptoms during chemotherapy, highlighting fatigue as a central symptom. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the dynamic changes in symptom networks and their implications for symptom management interventions.

Indexed as

CancerChemotherapyNetwork analysisScoping reviewSymptoms

Identifiers

PMID40471505
PMCPMC12141189

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.