SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Med.
Sec. Precision Medicine
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1619607
Bone Metastasis and Pain Research Through the Dual Lens of Bibliometrics and Bioinformatics: Knowledge Structure, Frontiers, and Core Pathway Analysis (2015-2024)
Provisionally accepted
Linghan Meng1,2
Jingna Tao1,3
Guangda Zheng2Juanxia Ren4Lu Shang4Dongtao Li2Haixiao Liu2
Yanju Bao2*
Baojin Hua2*- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- 2Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- 3Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- 4Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China
Select one of your emails
You have multiple emails registered with Frontiers:
Notify me on publication
Please enter your email address:
If you already have an account, please login
You don't have a Frontiers account ? You can register here
Background: Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) represents a formidable clinical challenge with complex mechanisms, and existing treatments remain unable to effectively control pain in many patients. This study combined bibliometric and bioinformatic approaches to delineate key research trends, principal themes and future directions in the field of bone metastasis and pain research over the past decade (2015-2024). Methods: We selected 1,822 relevant documents from the Web of Science Core Collection for bibliometric analysis to identify major research characteristics, collaboration networks and emerging trends. Additionally, we employed bioinformatic methods to screen core genes associated with both bone metastasis and cancer pain, and analysed their functions and signalling pathways. Results: Research output and academic influence demonstrated an upward trajectory, with the United States and China being the countries with the highest publication volumes. Research hotspots are shifting from traditional palliative treatments towards precision therapies, with stereotactic body radiotherapy, minimally invasive ablation techniques and neuropathic pain mechanisms representing major research frontiers. Bioinformatic analysis identified core hub genes such as TP53 and EGFR, and revealed significant enrichment of signalling pathways including PI3K-Akt, MAPK and TNF in the common pathological processes of bone metastasis and pain. Conclusions: This study, for the first time combining both methodologies, revealed the field's evolution from traditional treatments towards precision interventions and mechanistic exploration. The molecular targets and signalling pathways we identified provide promising directions for developing novel therapies capable of simultaneously controlling tumour progression and alleviating pain.
Keywords: bone metastasis, Cancer-induced bone pain, Bibliometrics, bioinformatics, 39
Received: 14 May 2025; Accepted: 25 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Meng, Tao, Zheng, Ren, Shang, Li, Liu, Bao and Hua. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yanju Bao, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
Baojin Hua, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.