Abstract
BACKGROUND: An extensive body of research has explored the role of autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), revealing its critical involvement in the disease's pathogenesis, progression, and therapeutic targeting. However, there is a discernible deficit in quantitative, analytical studies concerning autophagy in the context of HCC. Accordingly, this investigation endeavored to meticulously assess the evolution of autophagy research, employing bibliometric citation analysis to offer a comprehensive evaluation of the findings in this field. METHODS: The authors conducted a literature search on 2 August 2023, to extract relevant publications spanning from 2013 to 2022, indexed in the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCIE) of the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC). Subsequently, the authors performed a bibliometric assessment of the compiled documents using visualization tools such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer. RESULTS: The search yielded 734 publications penned by 4699 authors, encompassing contributions from 41 countries and 909 institutions, disseminated across 272 journals, and comprising 26 295 co-cited references from 2667 journals. Notably, China led in publication volume with 264 articles (amounting to 35.9%) and exhibited the most robust collaboration with the United States. The mechanisms underlying autophagy's influence on the emergence and advancement of HCC, as well as the implicated proteins and genes, have garnered significant attention. In recent years, investigations of targeting autophagy and the resistance to sorafenib have surfaced as pivotal themes and emerging frontiers in this domain. CONCLUSIONS: This study rigorously collated and distilled the prevailing research narratives and novel insights on autophagy in HCC. The resultant synthesis provides a substantive foundation for medical professionals and researchers, as well as pivotal implications for future investigative endeavors in this arena.