Neuroimmune mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a bibliometric analysis of global trends and hotspots

Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting adverse effect of cancer treatment that substantially compromises patients’ quality of life and treatment adherence. Neuroimmune mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CIPN have attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, a systematic overview of the knowledge structure and evolving research trends in this field remains lacking. Methods Literature on neuroimmune mechanisms in CIPN published between January 1, 2006, and May 31, 2026, was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, the R package bibliometrix, and other visualization platforms were used to systematically analyze temporal publication trends, contributions by countries and regions, collaboration networks among institutions and authors, journal distribution, highly cited references, citation bursts, and keyword evolution. Results A total of 501 eligible publications were included. Publication output increased steadily, with an average annual growth rate of 12.06%, and accelerated after 2020. The United States was the leading contributor, followed by China. Research hotspots evolved through three distinct stages: descriptive characterization and model establishment (2006–2013), mechanistic exploration and systematic investigation (2014–2019), and in-depth investigation of neuroimmune mechanisms and targeted interventions (2020–2026). Analysis of highly cited publications, citation bursts, and keyword co-occurrence revealed that neuroimmunity and neuroinflammation were central concepts in this research field. The document co-citation network found the SARM1/NAD + axonal degeneration pathway to be a key emerging research topic, while keyword burst analysis suggested pharmacological treatments and Schwann cells as hot topics in the field. Conclusion The bibliometric analysis identifies the knowledge structure and evolution of neuroimmunology in CIPN. It is becoming evident that the traditional concepts in neuroimmunology are widening their scope by including degeneration of axons and Schwann cells. Such observations will shed light on the possible treatment strategies which can pave the way for precision medicine in CIPN.