Evidence mapPaperPMID 42432910Full record

ArticleMedicine2026

Research trends of acupuncture for cancer: A bibliometric analysis (2014-2023).

Yiren Bao, Yuanyuan Feng, Zhe Shen, Mingqi Zhou, Bo Liang, Rui Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yiren BaoDepartment of Massage, The Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yuanyuan FengDepartment of Acupuncture, The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Zhe ShenDepartment of Acupuncture, The Third Clinical Medical College of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Mingqi ZhouDepartment of Acupuncture, The Quzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Bo LiangDepartment of Nephrology, The Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease of Chongqing, Chongqing Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urology Diseases, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China.
Rui WangDepartment of Massage, The Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0735-2888

Funding

Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Cultivation Plan for Top Innovative Talents of Postgraduates 741100G00730
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAcupuncture has been widely investigated as a complementary therapy for symptom management in patients with cancer. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to comprehend global research trends, hotspots, scientific frontiers, and output characteristics of acupuncture for cancer (2014-2023).

methodsPublications on the use of acupuncture for cancer from 2014 to 2023 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace 6.2.R4, VOSviewer 1.6.19, Scimago Graphica, and Microsoft Excel were used for bibliometric analysis. The main analyses included collaboration analyses of countries, institutions, authors, and journals, together with keyword co-occurrence, citation burst, and reference co-citation analyses.

resultsA total of 1427 publications were retrieved. Annual publication output generally increased during the study period, particularly for clinical studies. The most studies were published in China, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center made the most significant contribution in this field. Furthermore, Mao had the most publications, whereas Molassiotis had the highest citation ranking. "Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine" and "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" were the most commonly and centrally referenced journals, respectively. Among the referenced studies, the article published by Hershman was the most cited and deliberated on. Common keywords included "Vasomotor symptoms," "Electroacupuncture," "Quality of life," and "Mechanism.

conclusionThis bibliometric analysis maps the publication landscape, collaboration networks, and major research themes of acupuncture for cancer. Emerging work on acupuncture and cancer immunotherapy is gaining attention.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyBibliometricsBiomedical ResearchNeoplasmsHumansacupuncturebibliometric analysiscancerresearch trends

Identifiers

PMID42432910
PMCPMC13363024

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.