# The rise and evolution of cancer mechanobiology: a bibliometric trajectory of three decades of research

## TL;DR

This paper maps the development of cancer mechanobiology research over three decades using bibliometric analysis to identify key trends and contributors.

## Contribution

A novel data-standardization workflow and comprehensive bibliometric analysis of cancer mechanobiology research.

## Key findings

- The United States and China are the leading contributors to cancer mechanobiology research.
- Key themes have evolved from extracellular matrix stiffness to cancer immunotherapy and YAP signaling.
- Cell is the most influential journal, and Matthew J. Paszek is the most co-cited author in the field.

## Abstract

A growing body of research indicates that mechanobiology plays a pivotal role in cancer pathogenesis and holds considerable therapeutic potential. However, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this interdisciplinary field is lacking, partly due to challenges in cross-database data integration. In this study, we aim to construct a systematic knowledge map of cancer mechanobiology to delineate its research progress, core structure, and emerging trends.

In this study, we integrated 1,947 publications from the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection and Scopus (1976–2025). To address cross-database heterogeneity, we developed a novel, customized, multi-stage data-standardization workflow combining a bespoke Python parsing engine with fuzzy string matching algorithms and manual verification. The unified dataset was analyzed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix.

The United States and China are the most prolific countries, while the University of California system is the most productive institution. Valerie M. Weaver is the most published author, while Matthew J. Paszek is the most co-cited, indicating foundational influence. Cell is the most influential journal based on co-citation frequency. Keyword analysis reveals a thematic evolution from “extracellular matrix stiffness” and “mechanotransduction” to frontier areas such as “cancer immunotherapy” and “YAP signaling protein.”

In this study, we construct a comprehensive bibliometric map of cancer mechanobiology. Our findings elucidate the developmental trajectory and research hotspots of the field, providing a data-driven reference for future investigations, international collaborations, and clinical translation of physical oncology.