A bibliometric analysis of lung cancer and atrial fibrillation [1991–2026]: research hotspots, thematic evolution, and translational landscape in cardio-oncology

Background: The intersection of lung cancer (LC) and atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in thoracic surgery, systemic cancer therapies, and cardio-oncology, yet the research landscape remains inadequately characterized. To understand the progression of LC-AF research, a detailed overview is necessary to identify its main research focuses and highlight the most pertinent knowledge gaps for upcoming clinical and translational research. The present study aimed to systematically clarify the global research landscape, translational priorities, and key molecular signatures relevant to contemporary clinical and scientific focus in LC-AF comorbidity via a multi-perspective approach. Methods: We conducted a bibliometric study on LC-AF literature sourced from the SCI-Expanded database in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), updated to April 2026, including original articles and reviews after a predefined screening process. Clinical trial records indexed in PubMed were analyzed as an additional module to explore trends in trial-oriented clinical trends. Additionally, a transcriptomic analysis that integrates AF and LC datasets was carried out to give molecular context to repeated bibliometric themes. Results: The LC-AF field experienced steady publication growth, which became more pronounced post-2015. The primary contributors were the United States and China, with productive institutions clustered in several renowned global academic centers. Research hotspots were mainly centered on perioperative AF, thoracic surgery, cardiovascular complications, and risk-factor assessment, with thematic evolution toward cardio-oncology, treatment-related toxicity, immunotherapy, and precision-oriented research. Supplementary analysis of trials pointed to a need for greater emphasis on precision therapy, age-specific management, and more rigorous study designs. The transcriptomic exploratory study pinpointed shared genes with differential expression, including S100A8, S100A9, and IGFBP2, and underscored inflammatory and metabolic pathways as potential molecular connections to frequent bibliometric topics. Conclusions: The field of LC-AF research is expanding from a focus on perioperative and descriptive aspects to include a wider cardio-oncology orientation. Future work should prioritize long-term follow-up in comorbid populations, clearer distinction between perioperative and chronic AF scenarios, prospective multicenter validation of risk models, and translational studies linking molecular signals to perioperative surveillance and treatment decision-making.