A Bibliometric Analysis of Mitochondrial Research in Prostate Cancer: Global Research Trends and Emerging Hotspots (2016–2025)

Prostate cancer remains a major malignancy worldwide, with mitochondrial dysfunction playing a critical role in metabolic reprogramming, therapy resistance, and disease progression. However, a systematic bibliometric analysis of the intersection between prostate cancer and mitochondrial research is lacking. Publications from 2016 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analyses were performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer, including publication and citation trends, country/institution collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis, reference co-citation, and burst detection. Annual publication output remained stable, while cumulative citations increased 76-fold, indicating growing academic impact. China and the United States were the leading contributors, with China leading in volume but lagging in citations per publication. Keyword analysis revealed a clear evolutionary trajectory from basic mitochondrial functions dominated by apoptosis and oxidative stress to metabolic reprogramming, mitochondrial dynamics with dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) as a key player, and therapy-related topics including photodynamic therapy and tumor hypoxia. Clusters including "cancer metabolism", "tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle", "mitochondrial dysfunction", and "reactive oxygen species" highlighted the dual role of mitochondria in prostate cancer. Reference co-citation and burst analyses confirmed the shift from fundamental mitochondrial metabolism toward clinical translation and comprehensive assessment. This first bibliometric mapping of prostate cancer and mitochondrial research over the past decade identifies major research forces, collaboration patterns, and knowledge evolution. DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission, metabolic adaptation in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), and mitochondria-targeted therapeutic strategies represent emerging frontiers. The findings provide an objective reference for future research directions in prostate cancer and mitochondrial research.