Exploration and Prospects of Core Research Hotspots in the Mechanismsof Traditional Chinese Medicine for Treating Digestive SystemMalignancies Based on Bibliometrics

Introduction: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely used in the treatment of Digestive System Malignancies (DSM), but its overall research trends across cancer types remain unclear. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of TCM-related studies on colorectal, liver, gastric, and pancreatic cancers to guide future research. Method: To ensure the comprehensiveness and accuracy of TCM-related research retrieval, we collected relevant literature from three key databases—Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), PubMed, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)—covering the period from the inception of each database to December 31, 2024, with a focus on the four aforementioned types of digestive system malignancies. Subsequently, CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to systematically analyze publication trends, contributing entities, research hotspots, and other key indicators in the included literature. Results: Among digestive system malignancies, liver cancer has the highest number of publications, and studies focusing on the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of relevant drugs dominate in each subfield. Although research on gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer is less extensive, the relevant literature mainly centers on the mechanism exploration and application research associated with TCM treatment. The findings of this study provide a comprehensive overview of TCMbased therapies for digestive system malignancies. discussion: Malignant tumors of the digestive system are among the most common cancers and major causes of death worldwide, currently primarily treated by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Herbal medicine represented by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), an important component of complementary and alternative medicine, has developed for years in Asia, especially in China, and is gradually gaining international recognition. The role of TCM in the comprehensive treatment of digestive system malignant tumors (DSM) has expanded from adjuvant regulation of patients' immune functions to direct inhibition of tumor cell growth and proliferation, induction of autophagy and apoptosis, and symptom management. This study comprehensively analyzes research trends of TCM in major DSM types including colorectal, liver, gastric, and pancreatic cancers, providing valuable references for research progress, treatment strategies, and development trends of digestive malignant tumors. Discussion: Heterogeneities exist in publication volume and collaboration; immune regulation and TCM combination therapies are hotspots, while insufficient multicenter RCTs and weak collaboration hinder clinical translation. Conclusion: This study clarifies the field’s status, hotspots, and gaps, provides data references for unified research standards, and suggests a future focus on mechanism elucidation and clinical translation.