Driving innovations in cancer research through spatial metabolomics: a bibliometric review of trends and hotspot.

Background: Spatial metabolomics has revolutionized cancer research by offering unprecedented insights into the metabolic heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Unlike conventional metabolomics, which lacks spatial resolution, spatial metabolomics enables the visualization of metabolic interactions among cancer cells, stromal components, and immune cells within their native tissue context. Despite its growing significance, a systematic and visualized analysis of spatial metabolomics in cancer research remains lacking, particularly in the integration of multi-omics data and the standardization of methodologies for comprehensive tumor metabolic mapping. Objectives: This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to systematically evaluate the development trends, key contributors, research hotspots, and future directions of spatial metabolomics in cancer research. Methods: A bibliometric approach was employed using data retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Analytical tools such as VOSviewer and CiteSpace were utilized to visualize and assess co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, and institutional collaborations. Key metrics, including publication trends, authorship influence, country contributions, and journal impact, were analyzed to map the research landscape in this domain. Results: A total of 182 publications on spatial metabolomics in cancer research were identified over the past two decades, with a notable surge in research output beginning in 2018. The field has experienced accelerated growth, with an annual average of 40 publications since 2021, reflecting its increasing relevance in cancer studies. Among 28 contributing countries, China (n=53), the United States (n=35), Germany (n=18), and the United Kingdom (n=13) have been the most active contributors. China leads in publication volume, while the United States exhibits the highest citation impact, indicating significant research influence. International collaboration networks are particularly strong among the United States, Germany, and China, underscoring the global interest in this emerging field. Analysis of key authors and institutions identifies He Jiuming as the most prolific author and Song Xiaowei as the researcher with the highest average citations. Other influential authors include Abliz Zeper and Sun Chenglong. Leading research institutions driving advancements in this field include the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Harvard Medical School, and Stanford University. Regarding journal impact, Nature Communications (n=11), Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis (n=9), and Nature Methods (n=8) are the most active publishing platforms in this domain. Citation analysis reveals that Cell, BioEssays, and Genome Medicine are among the most highly cited journals, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of spatial metabolomics research.