Research Trends of the Aspartate Aminotransferase/Alanine Aminotransferase (De Ritis Ratio) on Cancer: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Publications from 1990 to 2024

Abstract Background: The De Ritis (aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase) ratio is a simple calculation of two liver enzymes, which was originally intended to detect liver-related diseases. However, its utilization has expanded to other medical fields, including oncology. The current study conducts a bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive review of publication trends related to the use of the De Ritis ratio in cancer patients. Methods: English language publications published between 1990 and 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Only studies published as research or review articles were included for further analysis. Bibliometric analysis was performed using the VOSviewer and the R package (bibliometrix/biblioshiny) to show the data and network of authors, countries, keywords, and study evolutions. Results: Following the screening process, 182 publications were included for analysis. The number of publications has escalated significantly, particularly during the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 era (2020–2024), focusing mainly on how the De Ritis ratio affects cancer prognosis. Studies regarding the De Ritis ratio application in cancer patients are mostly conducted in the Northern Hemisphere of the world. Research trends indicate that although the De Ritis ratio was initially used for liver diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma, it has more recently been applied to prostate and bladder cancers, suggesting new areas for further study. Conclusion: There is substantial growth in the usage of the De Ritis ratio for cancer, particularly during the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 eras. However, there is still a need for further research and its expansion to other oncology areas.