Exploration and Visualization Analysis of Autoimmune Disease-Related Gastric Cancer: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background and Objective: Autoimmune diseases are closely linked to gastric cancer development and are a significant etiological factor. Despite recent research progress in this field, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the relationship between autoimmune diseases and gastric cancer is still lacking. This study aims to use bibliometric methods to analyze the knowledge structure and research trends in autoimmune disease-related gastric cancer(AIDRGC). Methods: We retrieved literature related to AIDRGC from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from January 1, 1995, to May 31, 2025, and analyzed the data using tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrics". Results: A total of 3,241 researchers from 1,005 institutions across 55 countries/regions have contributed to this research field. The number of publications in this global research area showed a general upward trend until 2023. China had the highest number of publications, while the United States had the highest number of citations. The University of Padua, Harvard University, and Sapienza University of Rome were the most influential institutions. Journals such as "Frontiers in Immunology", "International Journal of Cancer", and "World Journal of Gastroenterology" ranked highly in the field. The study "Classification and grading of gastritis. The updated Sydney System" by M. F. Dixon et al. was the most cited reference. Authors such as Lahner Edith, Rugge Massimo, and Annibale Bruno had the highest local influence. Chinese corresponding authors had limited international collaboration and should enhance multinational country publications (MCP). Research on immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors has risen sharply in attention since 2015 and represents a cutting-edge topic in this field. Future research is likely to focus more on optimizing immunotherapy for AIDRGC, precision treatment for autoimmune diseases, and early cancer diagnosis and therapy. Conclusion: This study reveals the research direction and trends in AIDRGC. Global research interest in this field is increasing, and countries such as China and the United States have made significant contributions. Immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors show great potential in treating AIDRGC and are current research hotspots. Further research is needed on the pathogenesis, early prevention, and individualized treatment of AIDRGC.