Ferroptosis research based on bibliometric and visual analysis: mechanism exploration and clinical application prospects in gastric cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, and brain tumors.

Purpose: Ferroptosis, iron-dependent cell death, holds significant therapeutic potential in oncology. This study aimed to map global research trends (2014-2024) of ferroptosis in gastric cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, and brain tumors via bibliometric analysis, identifying key developments and clinical prospects. Methods: Publications from Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed were analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace for output, collaborations, influential authors/works (co-citation), and keyword trends (burst detection). Results: Research output surged, led by China and the USA. Foundational authors (Dixon, Yang, Stockwell) were highly co-cited. Emerging hotspots include overcoming therapy resistance, tumor microenvironment modulation, immunotherapy integration, and nanotechnology applications. Cancer-specific foci like GPx4 (gastric) and p53 (prostate) pathways were evident. Conclusion: This analysis provides a comprehensive map of the evolving ferroptosis research landscape across these four cancers, revealing a distinct shift towards translational applications. The findings of this study provide a valuable framework for guiding future research and for the prioritization of clinical strategies targeting ferroptosis.