Molecular Regulatory Network and Therapeutic Potential of Ferroptosis in Gastric Cancer: An Exploration Combining Bibliometrics and Mechanistic Review

Abstract

Gastric cancer, a prevalent malignancy of the digestive tract, continues to pose significant challenges in pathogenesis and prognosis improvement. Ferroptosis has emerged as a promising therapeutic breakthrough due to its critical role in inhibiting tumor growth and reversing drug resistance. This study employs bibliometric and visual analysis tools, utilizing the Web of Science database (up to October 20, 2025), to systematically analyze 362 English-language papers on ferroptosis in gastric cancer (GC), authored by 2,458 researchers across 16 countries and published in 189 journals. The analysis reveals a rapidly growing field, with 74.86\% of papers published in the last three years, and identifies China, the USA, and Japan as leading contributors. Using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, the study maps publication trends, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence, identifying core research hotspots centered on the molecular regulatory framework of ferroptosis. Meanwhile, we systematically summarize and comprehensively discuss the potential mechanisms of ferroptosis involved in GC occurrence and progression. By integrating bibliometric analysis with comprehensive review, this study clarifies the intrinsic relationship between gastric cancer and ferroptosis. Current efforts are focused on identifying and developing novel strategies to inhibit cancer proliferation and overcome drug resistance. By systematically outlining the knowledge structure, research evolution, and future directions of GC ferroptosis, this work provides a comprehensive foundation for researchers, fostering deeper insights and accelerating the translation of fundamental discoveries into clinical applications.