Global research states and trends of the circadian clock and cancer from 2001 to 2024: A bibliometric and visualization analysis

Circadian rhythms are intrinsic oscillatory mechanisms in organisms exposed to day-night cycles. Recent studies highlight their complex role in tumor development. Using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC), we conducted a bibliometric analysis of literature on circadian rhythm and clock genes in oncology with CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix. The results reveal a general upward trend in the volume of publications over the past years. The United States leads in output and impact, with the University of California System being the most prolific institution. Levi Francis is the most prolific author. Journal analysis has identified Cancer Research as the most cited journal and Clinical Epigenetics as the most prolific. Through keyword co-occurrence and clustering analyses, we find that current research has focused primarily on anti-cancer or oncogenic effects of clock genes. Future research hotspots may be therapeutic approaches targeting the clock genes, especially focus on epigenetic modifications of circadian genes. Dual-map overlay analyses of journals revealed a shifting research trend from Molecular Biology and Genetics toward Medicine, Medical Clinical and Immunology Overall, this study provides a current analysis of the relationship between clock genes disturbances and cancer development, summarizing recent advancements and outlining future research directions.