Unlocking the future of breast cancer biomarkers: A bibliometric perspective

Abstract Background Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting women worldwide. Biomarkers play a pivotal role in enhancing diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for personalized patient management. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of breast cancer biomarker research from 1981 to 2025 to identify key research trends, thematic clusters, and emerging areas. Methods A total of 752 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using keywords related to breast cancer and biomarker types, including molecular, protein, serum, and genetic markers. Bibliometric tools such as R programming and Biblioshiny were employed to analyze publication trends, keyword co-occurrences, and thematic clusters. Results The study identified a 3.2% annual growth rate in publications, with China, the USA, and India as the leading contributors. Research articles constituted 86.9% of the publications. Thematic analysis highlighted “proteomics” and “angiogenesis” as emerging research areas, while extensively studied topics included “EGFR” and “cholesterol.” The most central cluster encompassed “breast cancer, biomarkers, and metastasis,” while motor themes included “prognosis, diagnosis, and colorectal cancer.” Niche topics, such as “lncRNA and tumor,” represented isolated but developed research areas. Conclusions Key challenges included a lack of standardized validation protocols and slow clinical integration of biomarkers. The evolving landscape of breast cancer biomarker research underscores the need for multi-omics approaches and AI-driven analytics to accelerate biomarker discovery and clinical translation. Addressing challenges in validation and adoption will be crucial for improving patient outcomes.