# Research on tissue-resident macrophages in the field of cancer research: a bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2025

**Authors:** Qingya Song, Zongliang Yu, Wenping Lu, Qingyuan Chi

PMC · DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2026.2624204 · Cell Adhesion & Migration · 2026-02-02

## TL;DR

This paper analyzes research trends on tissue-resident macrophages in cancer from 2004 to 2025, identifying key contributors, topics, and future directions.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of TRM research in oncology, highlighting trends and future directions.

## Key findings

- The US leads in TRM research publications and influence.
- Microglia and Kupffer cells are the most studied TRM subsets.
- Current research focuses on pathways, immunotherapy, and single-cell sequencing.

## Abstract

In the tumor microenvironment, tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) promote malignant tumor progression, yet their tissue-specific heterogeneity and complex functions bring research challenges. This study analyzes the research status and trends of TRMs in oncology. Via VOSviewer, CiteSpace, R software and WoSCC, a visual bibliometric network was built for quantitative analysis, with future research directions explored in depth. The US leads in publications and academic influence, and the University of Washington tops in paper output. Research focuses on TRMs’ origin, classification and tumor microenvironment functions; microglia and Kupffer cells are the most studied subsets. Current research centers on pathway exploration, immunotherapy and single-cell sequencing. This study summarizes TRMs’ research status, hotspots and trends in oncology, providing valuable insights for relevant collaborators and institutions.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Fcgr1 (Fc receptor, IgG, high affinity I) [NCBI Gene 14129] {aka CD64, FcgammaRI, IGGHAFC}, ZAP70 [NCBI Gene 100524930], Itgam (integrin alpha M) [NCBI Gene 16409] {aka CD11b/CD18, CR3, CR3A, Cd11b, F730045J24Rik, Ly-40}, IFNG (interferon gamma) [NCBI Gene 396991], MMP9 (matrix metallopeptidase 9) [NCBI Gene 654325], Mir206 (microRNA 206) [NCBI Gene 387202] {aka Mirn206, mmu-mir-206}, VEGFA (vascular endothelial growth factor A) [NCBI Gene 397157] {aka VEGF}, Sqle (squalene epoxidase) [NCBI Gene 20775], STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) [NCBI Gene 396655], Cx3cr1 (C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1) [NCBI Gene 13051] {aka mCX3CR1}, Nr4a2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 2) [NCBI Gene 18227] {aka HZF-3, NOT, Nurr1, RNR-1, TINOR, TINUR}, Tnf (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 21926] {aka DIF, TNF-a, TNF-alpha, TNFSF2, TNFalpha, Tnfa}, Fcna (ficolin A) [NCBI Gene 14133] {aka Fcn1}, Serpinh1 (serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor, clade H, member 1) [NCBI Gene 12406] {aka BERF-1, Cbp1, Cbp2, Hsp47, J6, Serpinh2}, Timd4 (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing 4) [NCBI Gene 276891] {aka B430010N18Rik, TIM-4, Tim4}, Cd1d1 (CD1d1 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12479] {aka CD1.1, Cd1a, Cd1d, Ly-38}, Adgre1 (adhesion G protein-coupled receptor E1) [NCBI Gene 13733] {aka DD7A5-7, EGF-TM7, Emr1, F4/80, Gpf480, Ly71}, CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12) [NCBI Gene 494460] {aka SDF-1}, Ptprc (protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C) [NCBI Gene 19264] {aka B220, CD45R, Cd45, L-CA, Ly-5, Lyt-4}, CXCL9 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9) [NCBI Gene 100135681] {aka MIG}, Mertk (MER proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 17289] {aka Eyk, Mer, Nyk, nmf12}, CXCL10 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10) [NCBI Gene 494019], Rela (Rela proto-oncogene, NFKB subunit) [NCBI Gene 19697] {aka p65, p65 NF-kappa B, p65 NFkB}, P2ry12 (purinergic receptor P2Y, G-protein coupled 12) [NCBI Gene 70839] {aka 2900079B22Rik, 4921504D23Rik, P2Y12}, Runx1 (runt related transcription factor 1) [NCBI Gene 12394] {aka AML1, CBF-alpha-2, Cbfa2, Pebp2a2, Pebpa2b}, Nfkb1 (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1, p105) [NCBI Gene 18033] {aka NF-KB1, NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB1, p105, p50, p50/p105}, H2 (histocompatibility-2, MHC) [NCBI Gene 111364] {aka H-2, MHC-II}, Mrc1 (mannose receptor, C type 1) [NCBI Gene 17533] {aka CD206, MR}, Itgax (integrin alpha X) [NCBI Gene 16411] {aka Cd11c, Cr4, N418}, IL4 (interleukin 4) [NCBI Gene 397225], Mafb (MAF bZIP transcription factor B) [NCBI Gene 16658] {aka Kreisler, Krml, Krml1, kr}, Il6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 16193] {aka Il-6}, FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor 2) [NCBI Gene 397643], Cd14 (CD14 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12475], Jak1 (Janus kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 16451] {aka BAP004, C130039L05Rik}, IL10 (Interleukin 10 level) [NCBI Gene 103158318], Cd207 (CD207 antigen) [NCBI Gene 246278], Tmem119 (transmembrane protein 119) [NCBI Gene 231633] {aka obif}, Siglec1 (sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin 1, sialoadhesin) [NCBI Gene 20612] {aka Cd169, Siglec-1, Sn}, CCL2 (chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 397422] {aka MCP-1}, Siglecf (sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin F) [NCBI Gene 233186] {aka Siglec5, mSiglec-F}, Ly6c1 (lymphocyte antigen 6 family member C1) [NCBI Gene 17067] {aka Ly-6C, Ly-6C1, Ly6c}, CD28 [NCBI Gene 100738615], Cd163 (CD163 antigen) [NCBI Gene 93671] {aka CD163v2, CD163v3}, CD274 (CD274 molecule) [NCBI Gene 574058] {aka PDL1}, Cd274 (CD274 antigen) [NCBI Gene 60533] {aka A530045L16Rik, B7h1, Pdcd1l1, Pdcd1lg1, Pdl1}, ARG1 (arginase 1) [NCBI Gene 397115], Iba1 (induction of brown adipocytes 1) [NCBI Gene 114737], Maf (MAF bZIP transcription factor) [NCBI Gene 17132] {aka 2810401A20Rik, A230108G15Rik, c-maf}
- **Diseases:** TNBC (MESH:D064726), tumorigenesis (MESH:D063646), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), fatty liver (MESH:D005234), lung adenocarcinoma (MESH:D000077192), Inflammation (MESH:D007249), colorectal cancer (MESH:D015179), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (MESH:D021441), tenosynovial giant cell tumor (MESH:D000070779), deaths (MESH:D003643), hepatitis (MESH:D056486), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), brain metastasis (MESH:D009362), liver tumors (MESH:D008113), TS (MESH:D005879), MDMs (MESH:D055501), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), liver fibrosis (MESH:D008103), lung cancer (MESH:D008175), tumorigenic (MESH:D002471), hypoxic (MESH:D002534), melanoma (MESH:D008545), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), ovarian cancer (MESH:D010051), hepatocellular carcinoma (MESH:D006528), Cancer (MESH:D009369), non-small cell lung cancer (MESH:D002289), glioblastoma (MESH:D005909), obesity (MESH:D009765), brain glioma (MESH:C564230), pancreatic cancer (MESH:D010190), glioma (MESH:D005910)
- **Chemicals:** oxygen (MESH:D010100), BrdU (MESH:D001973), EdU (MESH:C022811), pexidartinib (MESH:C000600259), glutamate (MESH:D018698)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Bacteria Latreille et al. 1825 (Bacteria stick insect, genus) [taxon 629395]
- **Mutations:** A1-C
- **Cell lines:** ID 8 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_IU14)

## Full text

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## Figures

17 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12867409/full.md

## References

72 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12867409/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12867409