Collaboration networks and knowledge structure in cancer and cellular senescence research (2000–2025): a bibliometric perspective

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, posing substantial public health challenges. Cellular senescence, a stress-induced cell fate characterized by stable cell-cycle arrest and a hypersecretory state, plays dual roles in tissue repair and tumor suppression. Although the relationship between cancer and cellular senescence has been widely investigated, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis has been reported. This study aimed to map the global research landscape, identify hotspots, and reveal emerging trends in this field. Publications from 2000 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, including only articles and reviews, and analyzed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. A total of 5790 papers were identified, showing a steady increase in publications and citations over the past 25 years. The USA ranked first in publication output and institutional productivity, followed by China, while Judith Campisi was the most prolific and cited author. Hotspots included the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment, secretory phenotype, and molecular hallmarks of senescence. These findings indicate that cancer and cellular senescence research is expanding rapidly, with secretory phenotypes and molecular hallmarks representing promising directions for future investigation.