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<p>Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent regulated cell death pathway formally characterized in 2022, has rapidly attracted scientific interest in cancer metabolism and mitochondrial biology. The accelerated growth of related publications warrants systematic bibliometric assessment to clarify research focus, thematic evolution, and early translational relevance within this emerging field. This study mapped the global landscape of cuproptosis research using bibliometric methods, with emphasis on publication trends, thematic structure, collaboration patterns, and citation networks. A total of 1469 Scopus-indexed original research articles published between 2022 and 2025 were analyzed using Bibliometrix for performance indicators, Bradford’s and Lotka’s laws, and thematic mapping; VOSviewer for keyword co-occurrence and collaboration networks; and CiteSpace for reference co-citation analysis. Results demonstrated rapid publication growth characteristic of an early-stage scientific field, with 33.4% of articles concentrated in 13 core journals. Research output was highly geographically concentrated, with Chinese institutions contributing 89.8% of publications, while international collaboration remained limited (14.7%). Keyword and co-citation analyses revealed a thematic shift from foundational mechanistic studies toward prognostic modeling, copper ionophore exploration (e.g., elesclomol and disulfiram), immune-related analyses, and bioinformatics-driven patient stratification. Ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) emerged as a central regulatory node in co-citation networks, reflecting its role in defining the molecular framework of cuproptosis rather than validated drug development. Overall, cuproptosis research remains largely mechanistic and preclinical, with only early indications of translational relevance. The strong geographic concentration of publications and limited international collaboration highlight structural imbalances in knowledge production and the need for broader global validation. This bibliometric mapping clarifies the field’s early developmental stage and identifies priorities for future research, including cross-regional collaboration, experimental standardization, and cautious advancement toward clinical application.</p>

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Therapeutic horizons of cuproptosis: bibliometric mapping of copper-dependent cell death research and its pharmacological implications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月10日

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  • Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab,
  • Manal Mohamed Elhassan Taha,
  • Saeed Alshahrani,
  • Abdulmajeed M. Jali,
  • Marwa Qadri,
  • Abdulaziz Alarifi

摘要

Cuproptosis, a copper-dependent regulated cell death pathway formally characterized in 2022, has rapidly attracted scientific interest in cancer metabolism and mitochondrial biology. The accelerated growth of related publications warrants systematic bibliometric assessment to clarify research focus, thematic evolution, and early translational relevance within this emerging field. This study mapped the global landscape of cuproptosis research using bibliometric methods, with emphasis on publication trends, thematic structure, collaboration patterns, and citation networks. A total of 1469 Scopus-indexed original research articles published between 2022 and 2025 were analyzed using Bibliometrix for performance indicators, Bradford’s and Lotka’s laws, and thematic mapping; VOSviewer for keyword co-occurrence and collaboration networks; and CiteSpace for reference co-citation analysis. Results demonstrated rapid publication growth characteristic of an early-stage scientific field, with 33.4% of articles concentrated in 13 core journals. Research output was highly geographically concentrated, with Chinese institutions contributing 89.8% of publications, while international collaboration remained limited (14.7%). Keyword and co-citation analyses revealed a thematic shift from foundational mechanistic studies toward prognostic modeling, copper ionophore exploration (e.g., elesclomol and disulfiram), immune-related analyses, and bioinformatics-driven patient stratification. Ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) emerged as a central regulatory node in co-citation networks, reflecting its role in defining the molecular framework of cuproptosis rather than validated drug development. Overall, cuproptosis research remains largely mechanistic and preclinical, with only early indications of translational relevance. The strong geographic concentration of publications and limited international collaboration highlight structural imbalances in knowledge production and the need for broader global validation. This bibliometric mapping clarifies the field’s early developmental stage and identifies priorities for future research, including cross-regional collaboration, experimental standardization, and cautious advancement toward clinical application.