Bibliometric analysis of research on cervical cancer and miRNAs from 2010 to 2024: research trends, hotspots, and prospects

Abstract

Background and purpose

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in regulating the progression, metastasis, drug resistance, and HPV infection in cervical cancer. This bibliometric study aims to analyze research trends, identify major contributors, and explore emerging topics to guide future research directions and therapeutic advancements.

Methods

We systematically retrieved data from the Web of Science and PubMed databases (2010–2024). Bibliometric visualization was conducted using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software, and a total of 4034 publications were analyzed.

Results

Research activity peaked before 2020 but showed a decline after 2021. China is the leading contributor to this field, with Tang Hehua being the most prolific author. PLOS ONE is the most active journal, and Tianjin Medical University is the most productive institution. Key terms frequently mentioned include "cervical cancer," "expression," and "invasion." Current trends emphasize clinical translation, and non-coding RNA networks are integrating nanotechnology and artificial intelligence into precision medicine applications.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive overview of miRNA research in cervical cancer, highlighting key participants and emerging trends. Continued exploration of the mechanisms and clinical applications of miRNAs is essential for advancing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Introduction

Cervical cancer (CC) constitutes a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally and is the second most prevalent cancer among women, representing 14.1% of all female cancers and accounting for 7.1% of cancer-related deaths, as per the latest statistics. Among them, Asia and Africa are the two regions with the highest incidence and mortality of cervical cancer [31] (https://gco.iarc.fr/today/en/dataviz/pie-prevalence?reset=1).

While the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer have dramatically decreased in affluent countries over the past 50 years, the disease is still a major concern in developing nations, and medically underserved groups continue to have a high risk of getting cervical cancer [55].

The underutilization of cervical cancer screening in these populations is one of the factors contributing to the higher risk. Through numerous clinical studies, it has been demonstrated that the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer should focus on significantly enhancing patients' quality of life (with particular emphasis on preserving reproductive function) and improving treatment accuracy while ensuring therapeutic efficacy. These advancements are primarily reflected in three key dimensions: the reduction of surgical extent, the minimization of invasive surgical techniques, and the precision of lymph node assessment [10].

Although the advancement of treatment techniques has substantially enhanced the prognosis for patients with cervical cancer, the fundamental reduction in the disease burden still hinges on the establishment of a comprehensive prevention, screening, and treatment system that encompasses the entire population. The financial burden of cervical cancer in the area can be significantly reduced through the initiation of HPV-based initial screenings, effective handling of positive test outcomes, enhanced health education, and amalgamation of diverse health services. Attaining extensive screening and adherence to treatment protocols can significantly lower the occurrence and death rate of cervical cancer [40, 47, 62].

MicroRNAs, known as miRNAs, are small non-coding RNAs that play regulatory roles in inhibiting or activating fundamental biological functions and cancer-related genes in humans. Increasing evidence suggests frequent dysregulation of miRNAs in cervical cancer [3]. Innovative sequencing methods uncover a comprehensive view of the human transcriptome's makeup. MicroRNAs fulfill various roles in transcription, translation, and post-translation by interacting with lncRNAs, mRNAs, and cirRNAs. Previous research indicates miRNAs play a role in the development of various illnesses, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and cervical cancer. Hence, clarifying the function of miRNAs will enhance our comprehension of cervical cancer. miRNAs play a multifaceted role in cervical cancer, notably in its advancement, spread, resistance to treatment, regulation of HPV, and metabolic alteration. miRNAs hold as target molecules in the treatment and pioneering biomarkers for CC. Nonetheless, additional clinical research is required to enhance our comprehension of miRNAs' healing advantages in CC [12].

Gaining a more profound insight into miRNA's role and patterns in cervical cancer studies aids scientists in comprehending fundamental, groundbreaking, and impactful research and offers direction for emerging researchers in choosing research paths that hold promise and worth. Within this framework, our research aimed to perform an extensive bibliometric examination, enabling the identification of principal authors, organizations, scholarly articles, prevailing research directions and trends in miRNAs' role in cervical cancer development, collaborative trends among nations and journals, existing research focal points in existing literature, and prospective research directions in this field [59, 61].

Two well-known visual analysis tools that bibliometric researchers can use to transform vast volumes of disorganized data into reliable and unbiased network maps are CiteSpace and VOSviewer [16, 51, 64].

Through a methodical examination of miRNA and cervical cancer studies, our aim is to uncover knowledge voids, underscore crucial discoveries, and establish a robust groundwork for upcoming research to enhance our grasp of cervical cancer genetics and refine therapies.

Data and method

Data policy and screening criteria

We conducted a comprehensive literature search using the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection and PubMed, widely recognized and authoritative databases known for their extensive coverage of high-quality, peer-reviewed research across multiple disciplines. Its robust indexing and citation tracking capabilities make it particularly suitable for bibliometric analyses. The search focused on articles published between 2010 and 2024, as this period aligns with significant advancements in miRNA research and sequencing technologies, which have greatly expanded the understanding of miRNAs in cervical cancer. Earlier publications were excluded to ensure the analysis reflects the most recent and relevant scientific developments.

The search strategy employed the following formula:

#1 ((ALL = (microRNA)) OR ALL = (miRNA)) OR ALL = (mir)); #2((ALL = (cervical cancer)) OR ALL = (cervical cancer)) OR ALL = (cervical cancer)); #3: #1 and #2. To ensure the accuracy and relevance of the data, set the language to "All languages" when retrieving. Only original research articles classified as "articles" are included, while reviews, conference papers, book chapters, editorial materials, and withdrawn publications are excluded. After applying these standards, a total of 4,034 documents were retrieved, downloaded, and stored in text format for further analysis. And use the deduplication function of CiteSpace software (version 6.3.R3) and Endnote 20 software to strictly remove duplicate documents and erroneous documents and filter out the withdrawn files. The data collection flowchart (Fig. 1) presents a comprehensive description of the research data collection process.

Fig. 1.

Flowchart illustrating literature screening and selection process for publications included in the miRNA-cervical cancer study.

Methods

Bibliometric analysis is a quantitative method that uses mathematical and statistical techniques to examine patterns, trends, and relationships within academic literature. For this study, we employed two widely used tools: CiteSpace (version 6.3.R3) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.20). These tools were selected for their complementary strengths in visualizing and analyzing bibliometric networks, enabling a comprehensive exploration of research trends and collaborations.

VOSviewer is software for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks. It represents entities such as countries, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords as nodes, with the size of each node reflecting its frequency or importance. Lines connecting nodes indicate co-occurrence or collaboration between entities. This tool is particularly effective for mapping large datasets and identifying key themes and clusters within the literature.

CiteSpace is another powerful tool for analyzing and visualizing trends in scientific literature. It uses algorithms to detect emerging trends, citation bursts, and thematic evolution over time. CiteSpace was chosen for its ability to generate dynamic visualizations of research landscapes, highlighting the temporal development of key topics and the influence of seminal works. Together, these tools provide a robust framework for understanding the structure and evolution of miRNA research in cervical cancer.

Finally, the volume and details of the publications were analyzed and charted using Microsoft Office Excel to supplement the visual and quantitative insights generated by CiteSpace and VOSviewer.

Result

Outputs of publications

Evaluating the advancement of miRNA analysis in cervical cancer studies involved reviewing the publication records of 4034 WOS and PubMed studies spanning 2010 to 2024, with the yearly publication data depicted in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.

Annual publication trends (2010–2024) in miRNA and cervical cancer research, based on Web of Science data and Pubmed data

Generally, scholarly works indicate an expanding yet unpredictable pattern. Beginning in 2010 (n = 56), there was a rise and zenith in the quantity of studies in 2020 (n = 537), followed by a decrease in 2021 (n = 478). Commencing in 2021, there was a steady annual decrease in the quantity of studies (Fig. 2).

Density visualization of journals

The data analysis showed that PLoS One and Scientific Reports had the highest number of publications in miRNA and cervical cancer research (n = 114 and n = 91, respectively), but Scientific Reports had relatively low total link strength (8108) and citations (1066). It shows that the influence of his article is limited. Oncology Letters (n = 78) and Molecular Medicine Reports (n = 65) showed very high total link strength (23,150 and 16,356, respectively), indicating that they occupy a central position in the miRNA research network. Although the number of citations (1394 and 1210) is not the highest. It is worth noting that Oncotarget (n = 75), despite having been kicked out of the SCI, still shows a high number of citations (1771), reflecting its historical impact. Although Cell Death & Disease and BMC Cancer have fewer publications (n = 65 and n = 59, respectively), their studies may be of more reference value due to the high quality of the journals. Overall, PLOS ONE, Oncotarget (historical data), and Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications stand out in terms of impact. Oncology Letters, Oncology Reports, and Molecular Medicine Reports are important sources for tumor-related miRNA studies (Fig. 3, Table 1).

Fig. 3.

Visualization map of the journal density with the largest number of published articles in the field of cervical cancer and miRNA research

Table 1.

Detailed information on the top 10 journals in terms of the number of published articles

Journal	Documents	Total link strenth	Citations
Plos one	114	14,289	2493
Scientific reports	91	8108	1066
Oncology letters	78	23,150	1394
Oncotarget	76	10,525	1771
European review for medical and pharmacological sciences	73	11,476	1350
Oncology reports	71	13,811	1407
Molecular medicine reports	65	16,356	1210
Cell death & disease	65	4271	1164
BMC cancer	59	9410	1112
Biochemical and biophysical research communications	58	6644	1419

Allocation of research according to country or region

A multitude of countries and regions participated in the study to investigate the impact of miRNA on cervical cancer incidence. The table about this topic presents the top 10 regions/countries with the highest number of published research papers, including China (n = 2879), the United States (n = 421), India (n = 129), and Japan (n = 80). In terms of research influence, as measured by citation counts, China and the United States are at the forefront, with significantly higher citations compared to other countries. Specifically, China has accumulated 52,274 citations, the United States has garnered 7,080 citations, and India has received 1,823 citations. This demonstrates that a substantial number of researchers in China, the United States, and India are actively engaged in exploring the role of miRNA in cervical cancer incidence (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4.

Annual publication trends (2010–2024) in miRNA and cervical cancer research, based on Web of Science data and Pubmed data

The reasons for China's notably higher research output compared to other countries may be attributed to two primary factors: The cervical cancer incidence age standardization of China (ASR) is 13.8/10 (https://gco.iarc.fr/today/en/dataviz/pie-prevalence?reset=1), in the situation to promote national-level research. Secondly, scientific research resources are centralized, relying on large national biobanks (such as the China Cervical Cancer Collaboration and the China Cancer Foundation). (https://www.cfchina.org.cn/?innovation=34069#/home) and centralized sequencing platform (such as genomics, genetic testing the development of the company), Chinese researchers are more likely to obtain a large sample of microRNAs data.

This data analysis reveals significant differences in the patterns of international research collaboration: The United States shows a high efficiency of international cooperation, and its total link strength (n = 237) even exceeds that of China (n = 210), which has the largest number of papers published, indicating that American researchers are more inclined to establish high-quality international cooperation networks, and the average international cooperation strength per paper is 0.56, much higher than that of China (0.07), highlighting its position as a global research collaborative hub. Although China's research output is dominated by 2879 articles (68% of the total), the low link strength to article ratio (0.07) reflects that the research is still dominated by domestic teams. Among the medium-sized countries, Canada performs well, with only 49 articles but a link strength of 67 (average article 1.37), reflecting its highly open scientific research ecology. On the other hand, Japan showed a relatively isolated trend, with only 38 link strengths of 80 articles, which may be affected by language barriers or localization research preferences. These findings suggest that the influence of scientific research depends not only on the quantity of output but also on the quality of international cooperation, and countries need to develop differentiated cooperation strategies according to their own characteristics: China needs to enhance the depth of international cooperation while maintaining its scale advantage, the United States should maintain its open cooperation mechanism, and the "small but fine" model of countries such as Canada is worth learning from. It should be noted that the total link strength only reflects the quantitative characteristics of cooperation, and the specific quality of cooperation needs to be further analyzed in combination with indicators such as citation influence (Table 2).

Table 2.

Detailed information and influence of the top ten countries or regions in terms of the number of published articles

Countries	Documents	Citations	Total link Strenth
PEOPLES R CHINA	2879	53,207	210
USA	421	7084	237
INDIA	129	1823	48
JAPAN	80	1495	38
BRAZIL	53	436	31
IRAN	50	740	29
ITALY	49	724	41
CANADA	49	1230	67
GERMANY	48	583	64
MEXICO	47	795	48

Co-authorship and citation relationships of institutions

The data presented in this table elucidates the differentiated research development models of leading medical colleges in China. In terms of research output, Zhengzhou University (n = 80), Sun Yat-sen University (n = 76), and Nanjing Medical University (n = 72) ranked as the top three institutions, demonstrating a significant advantage in research volume. Although Tianjin Medical University published only 60 papers, it ranked first with 2,857 citations, achieving an impressive average of 47.6 citations per article, which underscores its commitment to high-quality research. Regarding international cooperation, Sun Yat-sen University leads with a total link strength of 450, while Wuhan University (363) and Zhejiang University (364) also exhibit strong performance, reflecting the extensive international collaboration networks established by these institutions. Notably, Shandong University (n = 61; total link strength: 306) and China Medical University (n = 58; total link strength: 317) primarily focus on domestic cooperation for their research endeavors. Conversely, Fudan University (n = 57; total link strength: 341) and Huazhong University of Science and Technology (n = 56; total link strength: 330) maintain a moderate scale while achieving balanced development in both research quality and international cooperation. These distinctions not only highlight the strategic positioning of each university but also reveal the diversified landscape of China's medical research ecosystem. Zhengzhou University exemplifies the "scale-first" development path, Tianjin Medical University reflects the "quality-first" research orientation, and Sun Yat-sen University showcases the successful implementation of "international collaboration." Furthermore, the total link strength index effectively captures the level of engagement and hub status of each institution within the global scientific research network, providing a critical metric for assessing institutional internationalization (Fig. 5, Table 3).

Fig. 5.

Biblimetric for institutional collaboration and citation relationships

Table 3.

Detailed information of the top ten institutions in terms of the number of published articles

Organization	Documents	Citations	Total link strenth
Zhenzhou Univ	80	2421	423
Sun yat sen univ	76	2476	450
Nanjing med univ	72	1692	377
Shandong univ	61	1600	306
Tianiin med univ	60	2857	353
China med univ	58	1415	317
Wuhan univ	58	1416	363
Fudan univ	57	2026	341
Huazhong univ sci & technol	56	1428	330
Zhejiang univ	55	1914	364

Research hotspots and evolutionary trends of miRNA in CC field

We choose "keyword" as the node type. 736 keywords were found, and the top 10 with the highest frequency are cervical cancer (n = 839), expression (n = 981), invasion (n = 589), proliferation (n = 555), metastasis (n = 403), migration (n = 395), growth (n = 388), microRNAs (n = 344), progression (n = 340), carcinoma (n = 334), apoptosis (n = 333), cell proliferation (n = 296), cells (n = 242), cancer (n = 230), and human papillomavirus (n = 227). In the keyword co-occurrence diagram, the larger the node, the higher the keyword co-occurrence frequency (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6.

Keyword co-occurrence network analysis of miRNA-cervical cancer research (2010–2024). Nodes represent frequency of keywords; edges denote co-occurrence relationships; Cluster colors reflect thematic groupings

Keywords are the values used to identify specific data items in the literature, which are mainly used to briefly and accurately describe the topic of the article. We can understand the characteristics and evolution trend of the publication by analyzing the changes of keywords. This cluster chart summarizes the top 10 popular key research questions in the field. Keywords are divided into 10 different categories:

#0 epithelial-mesenchymal transition, #1 cervical cancer, #2 human papillomavirus, #3 prognostic signature, #4 mortality, #5 cell cycle, #6 cisplatin, #7 cervical squamous cell carcinoma, #8 microRNA expression (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7.

Thematic clusters derived from keyword co-occurrence analysis

Through the diachronic analysis of the keywords of cervical cancer miRNA research from 2010 to 2024, the dynamic evolution of research hotspots can be clearly observed. The previous research (2010–2013) mainly focused on the exploration of the basic mechanism. The high frequency of keywords such as "cervical cancer" (n = 1911), "expression" (n = 981), and "human papillomavirus" (n = 227) reflects the researchers' concern about the miRNA expression profile and its relationship with HPV infection. With the deepening of the research (2014–2017), the distribution of keywords showed an obvious trend of clinical transformation. The frequencies of "biomarkers" (n = 73), "chemotherapy" (n = 42), and "diagnosis" (n = 60) increased significantly, indicating that the research focus has shifted to the development of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. It is notable that the prominent performance of keywords such as "epithelial-mesenchymal transition" (n = 109) and "migration" (n = 395) reveals the core role of the EMT mechanism in tumor progression.

The data in the past five years (2018–2024) have shown the characteristics of multi-dimensional expansion. On the one hand, the rapid growth of keywords related to non-coding RNA, such as "circular RNA" (n = 75) and "long non-coding RNA" (n = 103) reflects the rise of research on the ceRNA regulatory network. On the other hand, the emergence of emerging keywords such as "immune infiltration" (n = 7) and "oxidative stress" (n = 5) marks the expansion of research on the tumor microenvironment and systems biology. It is particularly worth noting the technology-driven keywords such as "machine learning" (n = 3) and "nanoparticles" (n = 5) that emerged between 2023 and 2024, which indicate the application prospects of artificial intelligence and nanomedicine in this field (Fig. 8).

Fig. 8.

Temporal evolution of keyword cluster associations (2010–2024) based on betweenness centrality

In 2016, "long noncoding RNA" entered the high-frequency word list for the first time (n = 103), marking the establishment of the ceRNA research paradigm.

After 2020, the average annual growth rate of microenvironment-related keywords such as "immune infiltration" reached 120%, reflecting the rise of research on immune metabolic mechanisms.

Technology-driven keywords (such as AI and nanocarriers) will emerge in a concentrated manner in 2023–2024, indicating the arrival of the fourth generation of research waves.

It can also be analyzed from the keyword highlight chart. In recent years, the field of cervical cancer research has shown obvious stage evolution characteristics, from the early molecular mechanism exploration to clinical transformation application. Through the systematic analysis of the bibliometric data from 2010 to 2024, this study found that the research hotspots in this field experienced three significant development stages: the initial basic exploration period (2010–2015) was characterized by broad-spectrum keywords such as "cancer" (intensity 12.62) and "gene" (intensity 10.30). The subsequent technical development period (2016–2020) focused on regulatory mechanisms such as "overexpression" (intensity 9.54) and epigenetic markers "DNA methylation" (intensity 8.15). At present, it has entered the clinical conversion period (2021–2024), and with non-coding RNA research as the leading factor, the emergence intensity of "circular RNA" has significantly increased from 8.83 in 2021 to 9.84 in 2022, with an annual growth rate of 11.4%, showing a strong momentum of development. Notably, "squamous cell carcinoma" showed the highest outburst intensity (15.57) between 2012 and 2016, reflecting the importance of HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma mechanism research. Based on the prediction of the time series model, cervical cancer research in the next five years will focus on three directions: liquid biopsy technology combined with circRNA, spatial multi-omics integration research, and NCRNA-immunotherapy combination strategy. The development of these emerging fields is expected to promote the transformation of cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment mode from traditional morphological diagnosis to molecular typing and precision therapy, providing new opportunities to improve patient prognosis (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9.

Key word highlighting chart and thematic trajectory analysis highlighting emerging research frontiers

Co-authorship

A total of 18,068 authors contributed to the study of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cervical cancer. Among them, the top ten authors with the highest number of published papers were identified. (Table 4) Through the comprehensive analysis of the data in this table, it can be seen that Chinese research institutions occupy a quantitative advantage in the field of cervical cancer miRNA research, but there is still room for international cooperation and quality improvement. Tang Hua (n = 50), Liu Min (n = 48), and Li Xin (n = 28) from Tianjin Medical University formed the core research team, which has been cited 5444 times in total, and the cooperation intensity is 73, showing strong academic influence. Xie Xing (n = 22) and Lu from Zhejiang University have a small number of papers, but each paper has been cited more than 40 times, and the cooperation intensity is as high as 110, showing high-quality research results and an extensive cooperation network. In contrast, although the cooperation intensity of Wang from Guangzhou was only 6, indicating that his research was relatively isolated. It is noteworthy that Steenbergen, Renske D M (n = 30) and Meijer (n = 25), scholars at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, have been cited on average 735 times. They also maintain a high level of international collaboration with a cooperation intensity of 47, which could serve as a potential model for collaboration for Chinese scholars. These findings suggest that while maintaining high output, Chinese teams need to focus on strengthening cooperation and communication with top teams in Europe and the United States, especially supporting scholars with weak cooperation networks but high output (such as Wang Wei) in order to further improve research quality and international influence.

Table 4.

Detailed information of the author with the largest number of published articles

Rank	Author	Documents	Citations	affiliations	Total link strenth	H-index
1	Tang, Hua	50	1972	Tianjin Med Univ	76	49
2	Wang, Wei	49	1403	Guangzhou Med Univ	6	5
3	Liu, Min	48	1984	Tianjin Med Univ	76	45
4	Wang, Jing	32	253	Peking Univ Sixth Hosp	5	105
5	Steenbergen, Renske D M	30	801	Amsterdam Univ Med Centra	22	51
6	Li, Xin	28	1488	Tianjin Med Univ	67	4
7	Meijer, Chris J L M	25	668	Vrije Univ Amsterdam Med Ctr	72	58
8	Xie, Xing	22	969	Zhejiang Univ	113	40
9	Lu, Weiguo	21	768	Zhejiang Univ	107	39
10	Peralta-zaragoza, Oscar	21	311	Direcc Infecc Cron & Canc	5	12

The H-index analyses of the table reveal the characteristics of multi-level differences in scientific research influence. First of all, Wang Jing from Peking University Sixth Hospital took a significant lead with the H-index of 105, indicating that his research results have outstanding academic influence, which is far higher than Tang Hua (49), the second ranking, and Meijer (58), the third scholar from the Netherlands. It is worth noting that two international scholars, Meijer (58) and Steenbergen (51), have excellent H-index performance, which corresponds to their high international cooperation strength (total link strength of 72 and 22, respectively), reflecting the positive role of international cooperation in enhancing academic influence. In contrast, although Wang Wei of Guangzhou Medical University and Li Xin of Tianjin Medical University had a high number of publications (49 and 28, respectively), the H-index was only 5 and 4. This phenomenon of "high yield and low citation" may be due to the clinical application characteristics of their research directions or the junior qualifications of scholars. It is particularly noteworthy that Xie Xing and Lu Weiguo, two scholars from Zhejiang University, achieved a high H-index (40 and 39) while maintaining a moderate number of publications (22 and 21), reflecting stable research quality and sustained influence. These differences not only reflect the differences in individual research characteristics of scholars but also reveal the shaping effect of disciplinary characteristics and the international cooperation degree on academic influence. It is suggested that further research should be carried out in combination with factors such as scholars' career length and subject field characteristics.

Wang, Wei, Guangzhou Medical University ( This table system shows the core authors in the field of cervical cancer miRNA research and their academic influence pattern. The representative academic research results are in-depth analyses of the regulatory mechanism and clinical significance of miR-497 and miR-221-3p in cervical cancer. Studies have shown that miR-497 is significantly down-regulated in cervical cancer, and its low expression level is closely related to tumor progression and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, miR-497 inhibits proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells and induces apoptosis by targeting IGF-1R. On the other hand, we demonstrated for the first time that the exosome miR-221-3p promotes lymphatic metastasis through the VASH1/ERK/AKT signaling pathway. These findings not only reveal new molecular mechanisms but also provide potential novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the early diagnosis and targeted therapy of cervical cancer [30, 65, 71].

Tang, Hua (n = 50) and Liu, Min (n = 48), experts from Tianjin Medical University, systematically explained that different miRNAs (miR-346/miR-214/miR-372) regulate the diversity of cervical cancer malignant phenotypes through unique molecular mechanisms, revealing the AGO2-mediated amplification effect of the miRNA network (miR-346). Cancer inhibition pathways that directly target key molecules of the cell cycle (miR-372) or signaling pathway nodes (miR-214) have also been identified, and directions for optimization of therapeutic strategies based on these findings (such as specific RNAi systems) have been explored. These results provide a multi-level theoretical basis for molecular typing and precise treatment of cervical cancer [5, 11, 43, 53].

The authors' joint effort is described by lines connecting nodes on a visual diagram. Tang Hua, Wang Wei, and Liu Min ranked among the top three, indicating their lofty status in the research field. Small correlations were observed across different study groups, suggesting a lack of collaborative efforts among authors across numerous study subgroups.

Analysis of co-citations of highly cited literature

A total of 4034 articles were included in the analysis. The table presents the data of the 10 most influential pieces of literatures in the field of miRNA research and evaluates and analyzes them from two dimensions: citations and total link strength. In terms of citations [44], study topped the list with 384 citations, showing the wide influence of the literature in the academic community, Zhang (2016) and Hu (2010) ranked second and third with 281 and 259 citations, respectively. Notably, three of the top five citations were published between 2010 and 2011, suggesting that this period could be an important breakthrough period for miRNA research (Table 5).

Table 5.

Detailed information of the top ten most frequently cited documents

Document	Title	Citations	Total link strength	Journal
Tie (2010)	MiR-218 Inhibits Invasion and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer by Targeting the Robo1 Receptor	384	56	Plos genetics
Zhang (2016)	Long noncoding RNA MEG3 is downregulated in cervical cancer and affects cell proliferation and apoptosis by regulating miR-21	281	15	Cancer biology&Therapy
Hu (2010)	A MicroRNA Expression Signature for Cervical Cancer Prognosis	259	86	Cancer Research
Alajez (2011)	miR-218 Suppresses Nasopharyngeal Cancer Progression through Downregulation of Survivin and the SLIT2-ROBO1 Pathway	253	20	Cancer Research
Chen (2013)	miR-146a Inhibits Cell Growth, Cell Migration and Induces Apoptosis in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells	236	28	Plos One
Wilting (2010)	Methylation-mediated silencing and tumour suppressive function of hsa-miR-124 in cervical cancer	221	65	Molecular Cancer
Pang (2010)	MicroRNA-34a suppresses invasion through downregulation of Notch1 and Jagged1 in cervical carcinoma and choriocarcinoma cells	220	28	Carcinogenenesis
Chen (2014)	Small Molecules Targeting c-Myc Oncogene: Promising Anti-Cancer Therapeutics	212	10	International journal of biological sciences,
Tsuchida (2011)	mir-218 suppresses nasopharyngeal cancer progression through downregulation of survivin and the slit2-robol pathway	206	17	Cancer Science
Xu (2013)	Suppressed miR-424 expression via upregulation of target gene Chk1 contributes to the progression of cervical cancer	198	40	Oncogene

In terms of total link strength, Hu (2010) has the most outstanding performance with a value of 86, which far exceeds other literature, indicating that this study has a strong correlation and pivotal role in academic networks. It is found that earlier studies (2010–2011) generally have higher link strength, such as Hu (2010), Wilting (2010), etc. This may reflect the widespread influence of these foundational works on subsequent research. Overall, the literature published in 2010–2011 occupies a core position in the field of miRNA research, and these groundbreaking works are not only highly cited but also play a key role in the academic network.

Among them, Hu Xiaoxiao (2010) published in Cancerch an article entitled "A MicroRNA Expression Signature for Cervical Cancer Prognosis." The paper has been cited 259 times, making it the most cited article in the field. The second most-cited paper was Nehad M. (2011), "miR-218 Suppresses Nasopharyngeal Cancer Progression through Downregulation of Survivin and the SLIT2-ROBO1 Pathway," published in Cancer Research (n = 253). In addition, Saskia M. Wilting's (2010) article "Methylation-mediated silencing and tumor suppressive function of hsa-miR-124 in cervical cancer" was published in Molecular Cancer (n = 221). To further analyze the literature landscape, we used VOSviewer software to visualize the top 116 publications and their citation patterns. The visualization provides insights into the high-frequency and most influential articles in the field of cervical cancer and miRNA research, promoting a deeper understanding of key contributions to the field (Fig. 10, Table 5).

Fig. 10.

The relationship between microRNA (miRNA) and cervical cancer literature cited from 2010 to 2024

Discussion

Bibliometric analysis and scientific cartography have advanced significantly in recent years, reflecting the scientific community's growing interest in deriving insights from comprehensive assessments of research trends. Using bibliometric methods, our study explores the landscape of miRNA research in cervical cancer, highlighting key developments and trends in this field. Bibliometric analysis is valuable for identifying influential studies, mapping research networks, and providing a broad overview of the knowledge landscape within a specific domain [18, 32, 45].

This study is an original bibliometric analysis of 4034 publications on miRNAs in cervical cancer, published between 2010 and 2024. The analysis reveals a steady increase in research output over this period, with a peak in 2020 followed by a slight decline. The initial growth can be attributed to advancements in sequencing technologies and reduced costs, which facilitated miRNA research. The post-2020 decline may be linked to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The growing interest in miRNA research is driven by their potential roles in cervical cancer progression, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as the development of advanced molecular techniques [1].

The average number of citations per article remains moderate, suggesting that this field holds significant potential for further exploration. Collaboration network analysis highlights the prominent role of Chinese institutions, which dominate in terms of publication volume. China, the United States, India, Japan, and Mexico are among the top five countries contributing to this field, both in terms of publications and citations. Leading Chinese institutions, such as Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhengzhou University, Shandong University, Nanjing Medical University, and Wuhan University, have made substantial contributions, reflecting the collaborative efforts of researchers in China. However, while Chinese institutions lead in productivity, the impact of research from other countries should not be overlooked, as they may produce fewer but more highly cited studies.

Regarding journal quality, Oncology Letters and Molecular Medicine Reports are among the most active and influential journals in this field, providing valuable platforms for researchers to share their findings.

Each country has made distinct contributions to the research on miRNA and cervical cancer, with China, the United States, and India being the three countries that have published the most studies and made the most significant contributions in this field.

China has made remarkable progress in the field of cancer prevention and control, with the 5-year survival rate of cancer increasing from 30.9% in 2003–2005 to 40.5% in 2012–2015, mainly due to the national cancer screening program, the promotion of multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment model, the clinical application of precision oncology technology, and the optimization of innovative drug research and development policies [48]. In order to continuously improve the level of cancer prevention and control, China has set the goal of raising the 5-year survival rate to 46.6% by 2030 through the Healthy China 2030 plan, and has adopted a series of measures, including improving the medical security system and promoting the accessibility of medical resources [29]. At the technical level, professional organizations such as the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) have actively formulated diagnosis and treatment norms, promoted precision medicine to become the clinical standard, and supported the research of rare tumors and the transformation and application of artificial intelligence technology [7, 9, 29]. However, China still faces social challenges in the field of cancer prevention and control, such as cultural attitudes (such as stigma and traditional filial piety affecting treatment decisions) and an aging population, which need to be addressed by strengthening popular science education and promoting preventive measures (such as tobacco control and vaccination). [29] (http://www.csco.ac.cn/cat/1/show/2.html).

These comprehensive measures reflect China's systematic planning and firm determination to improve the level of cancer diagnosis and treatment. In addition, many Chinese scholars have conducted in-depth and continuous research on the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer in the direction of precision medicine and molecular biology, and certain achievements have been made in the research on miRNA in the direction of cervical cancer. For example, some scholars have found a new mechanism of miR-532-5p inhibiting tumor metastasis by regulating the accumulation of lipid drops (LDs): As a competitive RNA (ceRNA), LINC01410 adsorbs miR-532-5p and releases its inhibition of FASN, thereby promoting LDs accumulation and driving EMT and lymphangiogenesis. Moreover, the combination therapy of miR-532-5p and orlistat (FASN inhibitor) can significantly inhibit tumor growth and lymph node metastasis in vivo, providing a new basis for therapeutic strategies targeting the metabolism-metastasis axis [37]. In addition, some scholars have found that LINC00885 plays a carcinogenic function in CC by regulating the miR-3150b-3p/BAZ2A axis. These findings suggest that LINC00885 may be a potentially promising therapeutic target for patients with CC [28]. Some scholars have used novel methods to study the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Chen et al. developed a novel nucleic acid detection technology based on the split Cas12a system (SCas12a), which can detect miRNA and long RNA with high sensitivity without pre-amplification, and distinguish between mature miRNA and pre-miRNA. The system can specifically identify DNA and miRNA point mutations, and has been successfully applied to the detection of plasma miR-21 in cervical cancer patients. Combined with RPA, the sensitivity is up to amolar level, and HPV can be detected in clinical samples [4]. These unique and advanced diagnostic approaches make it possible to augment current precision oncology practices in treatment decisions.

Similarly, the United States, which has a lot of research achievements in the direction of miRNA, may be caused by mechanism exploration and technological invention as well as the open exploration of big data. In recent years, the field of cancer research has made revolutionary progress, mainly reflected in the following aspects: first, the significant reduction in the cost of sequencing technology and the maturity of technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, so that we can deeply understand the tumor and its microenvironment at the molecular level; Second, interdisciplinary fusion (such as the combination of nanotechnology, semiconductors, and biomedicine) has led to new diagnostic tools that significantly improve the ability of cells to accurately regulate [14, 17, 19–21].

More importantly, studies based on the Cancer Genome Atlas and others have found that RNA technologies (including RNA interference drugs, mRNA vaccines, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing) are breaking through the limitations of traditional therapies, combining with nanomaterial delivery systems to provide new therapeutic possibilities for 80% of previously "unpharmaceutical" cancer targets. Together, these technological advances form a complete closed loop from basic research to clinical translation and are reshaping the cancer diagnosis and treatment landscape [8, 26, 41, 63].

The breakthrough of sequencing technology is particularly prominent, which can not only analyze multiple pieces of information of the tumor microenvironment at the same time, but also realize microRNA and single-cell sequencing with the improvement of library technology, which provides valuable data for the comparative study before and after treatment. However, the emergence of massive heterogeneous data also brings standardization challenges, and there is an urgent need to establish unified data standards, electronic health system integration, and cloud data sharing [15].

In addition to technological development, the huge prevalence and burden of India, which ranks third in the number of publications, is also a very important reason to promote the development of miRNA and cervical cancer. It is the second most common cancer among women in India. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported an estimated 96,922 new cases of cervical cancer in India, with 60,078 deaths, representing 16.5% of the global burden [2].

The most frequently cited is "A MicroRNA Expression Signature for Cervical Cancer Prognosis," published in Cancer Research. This study has made an important breakthrough in predicting the prognosis of cervical cancer. By analyzing 102 cervical cancer samples, the research team found for the first time that two microRNAs, miR-200a and miR-9, can constitute effective prognostic markers and established corresponding prediction models. Further mechanism studies showed that miR-200a could inhibit the metastasis of cervical cancer cells by synergistically regulating multiple transfer-related genes. [13] The second most-cited article was published in Cancer Research in 2010 and entitled "MiR-218 inhibits gastric cancer invasion and metastasis by targeting Robo1 receptors." In this study, a dual miRNA prognostic model based on miR-200a and miR-9 was established for the first time by analyzing 102 cervical cancer samples, which is a difficult clinical problem to predict the prognosis of invasive cervical cancer. Studies have found that these two miRNAs can not only effectively predict patient survival but also play a key regulatory role in the progression of cervical cancer: in particular, miR-200a regulates the motor metastasis ability of cancer cells by synergistically inhibiting multiple metastasis-related genes [44]. This study not only provides a new personalized prognostic assessment tool for cervical cancer (300,000 deaths per year worldwide) but also reveals the important value of miR-200a as a potential therapeutic target, providing a double breakthrough for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. Provides a fundamental understanding of microRNA biology, including their role in gene regulation and their impact on disease. The third most cited is "Methylation-mediated silencing and tumor suppressive function of hsa-miR-124 in cervical cancer," published in Molecular Cancer. This study demonstrated for the first time that hsa-miR-124 is silenced in cervical cancer due to DNA hypermethylation, and its methylation frequency significantly increased from 0% in normal tissue to 93% in cancer tissue. Mechanism studies showed that hsa-miR-124 inhibited the proliferation and migration of cancer cells by regulating the target gene IGFBP7, and demethylation treatment could restore its expression. The hsa-miR-124–1/-2 methylation detection protocol developed in this study showed good predictive value for cervical precancerous lesions. These findings not only reveal the key role of epigenetic regulation of hsa-miR-124 in the occurrence of cervical cancer but also provide a new molecular marker for early diagnosis [49].

In conclusion, miRNAs play a crucial role in cervical cancer biology, influencing key processes such as gene regulation, tumor progression, and treatment response. In recent years, the regulatory role of non-coding RNA in the occurrence and development of cervical cancer has received increasing attention. Studies have shown that miRNA-centered non-coding RNA regulatory networks (including lncRNA and circRNA) show important value in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. MiRNAs play a key role in cervical cancer progression and treatment response [34]. For example, miR-200a and miR-9 can be used as biomarkers to predict radiotherapy sensitivity, while miR-421 and miR-23b/34a affect DNA damage response by regulating the ATM/p53 pathway [13]. These findings suggest that miRNA is not only a potential target for cervical cancer treatment, but also its expression profile is expected to be used in clinical treatment decision-making. Further validation of these miRNA markers and development of targeted regulatory strategies are needed in the future.

In addition, lncRNA (such as HOTAIR) and circRNA (such as CDR1as) can act as molecular sponges of miRNA to regulate the expression of downstream target genes through competitive binding. HOTAIR removes the inhibition of ZEB1 by adsorption of miR-23b-3p, promoting EMT and metastasis; CDR1as, by antagonizing miR-7, up-regulates EGFR expression and drives tumor proliferation. These findings not only revealed the key role of the lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axis in malignant phenotypes such as apoptosis escape, metastasis, and spread of cervical cancer but also provided new ideas for clinical practice [6, 36].

On the one hand, specific molecules in these regulatory networks, such as the circCDR1as/miR-7/EGFR pathway, are expected to be novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and subtype differentiation. On the other hand, dynamic monitoring of changes in these networks (such as HOTAIR/miR-23b-3p/ZEB1 fluctuations during treatment) can provide a basis for efficacy evaluation and resistance monitoring. Although the current complexity of ncRNA interactions poses challenges for clinical translation, these findings are expected to promote the development of precision diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer in the future through multi-center validation of biomarkers and development of combined targeted therapy strategies (such as simultaneously targeting miRNAs and regulating ncRNAs) [12, 39].

Future research should focus on elucidating the functional roles of miRNAs in cervical cancer and exploring their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Such efforts could pave the way for improved clinical outcomes and more effective treatment strategies [46, 59, 61].

Keyword analysis reveals the main themes and focus areas of miRNA and cervical cancer research. High-frequency keywords such as "expression" and "invasion." These mechanisms are essential for understanding the progression of cervical cancer and identifying potential therapeutic targets. The consistency between keyword trends and the research topics discussed in this study highlights the trends and hot spots for each stage of miRNA-based research in cervical cancer.

In recent years, cervical cancer miRNA research has shown a significant trend from the basic mechanism to clinical transformation. Earlier studies (2010–2013) focused on miRNA expression profiles and their association with HPV infection. The high-frequency keywords in this period were cervical cancer, expression, apoptosis, and HPV. Some scholars have investigated the characteristics of miRNA expression profiles in cervical cancer, indicating that aberrant miRNA expression may play a critical role in the development of cervical cancer. By conducting microarray chip analysis on cancerous and adjacent tissues from 13 HPV16/18-positive cervical cancer patients, it was found that 18 miRNAs were significantly upregulated (≥ twofold) and 19 miRNAs were significantly downregulated (≤ 0.5-fold). Notably, these patients were infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and/or 18 [35]. HPV facilitates malignant transformation through miRNA reprogramming. Research has demonstrated that the expression of 31 miRNAs undergoes continuous changes during the progression of cervical cancer. Among these, miR-29 suppresses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting YY1 (a transcription factor) and CDK6 (a cyclin-dependent kinase). Furthermore, the HPV oncogenic proteins E6/E7 may indirectly promote cellular malignant transformation by inhibiting miR-29 [23].

As biomarkers and therapeutic targets, miRNA is a marker for clinical translation of miRNA and cervical cancer studies (2014–2017). At this time, the keywords EMT, biomarker, and chemoresistance are most used. At present, a substantial number of miRNAs can serve as potential targets for generating diverse biological profiles of cervical cancer cells. Some studies have demonstrated that the expression of miR-1246 is negatively correlated with both cervical cancer surgical outcomes and HPV16E6 infection status, indicating its potential utility as a diagnostic biomarker [52]. Furthermore, the expression profiles of a three-miRNA panel (hsa-miR-3154, hsa-miR-7-3p, and hsa-miR-600) have been established to predict patient survival. Specifically, hsa-miR-3154 and hsa-miR-7-3p are associated with poor prognosis and enriched in the mTOR signaling pathway, while hsa-miR-600 correlates with favorable prognosis and is enriched in the AMPK signaling pathway [56].

For instance, the oncogenic lncRNA PVT1 suppresses the expression of miR-195 by enhancing H3K27me3 modification and competitive binding within the miR-195 promoter region, thereby modulating paclitaxel-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and chemoresistance [38]. Additionally, iASPP promotes EMT and cisplatin resistance through the upregulation of miR-20a in a p53-dependent manner, with its effects mediated via targeting FBXL5 and BTG3 [50].

The increased expression of serum miR-205, along with the discovery that miR-144 inhibits tumor proliferation and metastasis by targeting VEGFA/VEGFC, further expands the clinical application potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment [42]. These findings provide a critical theoretical foundation for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying cervical cancer and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

During this period, numerous studies have explored the molecular mechanisms underlying cervical cancer (CCa) progression, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and treatment resistance. Many scholars have conducted in-depth research on this topic.

These investigations have identified several key regulatory molecules and their associated signaling pathways. Research has demonstrated that fatty acid-binding protein FABP5 is highly expressed in LNM, reprograms fatty acid metabolism to activate NF-κB signaling, thereby promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lymphangiogenesis. Meanwhile, miR-144-3p has been shown to inhibit the pro-metastatic effects of FABP5, and the fatty acid metabolic inhibitor orlistat effectively blocks this process [57, 60]. Additionally, miR-532-5p suppresses LNM by regulating lipid droplet (LD) accumulation, while its competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), LINC01410, upregulates fatty acid synthase (FASN) by sequestering miR-532-5p [37]. The combination of LINC01410 and orlistat significantly inhibits tumor growth. In terms of non-coding RNA regulation, hsa_circ_0043280 functions as a tumor-suppressive circRNA by maintaining PAQR3 expression and inhibiting tumor metastasis through competitive binding to miR-203a-3p [58]. Exosome-mediated delivery of miR-663b in the tumor microenvironment inhibits vinculin (VCL) expression and promotes angiogenesis, suggesting its potential as a target for anti-angiogenic therapy [54]. Furthermore, lactic acid enhances the migration and invasion capabilities of HPV16-positive cervical cancer cells by upregulating miR-744 and partially downregulating the expression of the E6/E7 oncogenes via ARHGAP5 inhibition [22].

Collectively, these findings not only elucidate critical molecular mechanisms driving cervical cancer progression but also propose innovative therapeutic strategies based on miRNA, circRNA, and metabolic regulation, providing a theoretical foundation and potential targets for improving the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.

It is worth noting that the emergence of keywords such as "immune infiltration" (2022) and "machine learning" (2024) in recent years reflects the application potential of multi-omics integration and artificial intelligence in precision medicine. These trends suggest that future studies need to further explore the regulatory role of miRNA in immunotherapy resistance and develop targeted intervention strategies based on nanodelivery systems. In this short period of time, the keywords with high frequency are immune infiltration, oxidative stress, and machine learning.

In the field of machine learning, several scholars have conducted in-depth research by integrating the GEO and TCGA databases. Using a multi-omics analysis approach, they systematically investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying cervical cancer. Specifically, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cervical cancer. Key pathways such as organelle fission, nuclear envelope, protein kinase activity, and HTLV-1 infection were identified [33]. Key hub genes (CDK1, MAD2L1, CCNB1) showed high connectivity in PPI networks. Random forest analysis identified shared hub genes (NCAPH, UHRF1, CDCA2) between psoriasis and cervical cancer, enriched in mitosis and DNA methylation pathways. Immune infiltration was analyzed by CIBERSORT, while cMAP predicted potential drugs. Regulatory networks revealed miRNA/TF interactions with hub genes [27]. The machine learning model validated the diagnostic potential of these hub genes (accuracy > 0.90), providing a critical foundation for molecular classification and precision treatment of cervical cancer.

In the realm of immunology, key mechanisms of immune escape mediated by non-coding RNA in cervical cancer have been elucidated. Research has demonstrated that long non-coding RNA LINC00240 is abnormally overexpressed in cervical cancer. Through competitive binding with miR-124-3p, it removes the inhibition of STAT3, further downregulating the expression of the natural killer (NK) cell activation ligand MICA. This leads to impaired cytotoxic function of NK T cells (NKT) and promotes tumor immune escape. Another long non-coding RNA, LINC01871, upregulates the expression of MAP3K2 and activates the MAPK signaling pathway by adsorbing miR-873-3p [24]. Additionally, another study reveals that HPV16 oncogenic proteins E6/E7 remove their inhibitory effect on PD-L1 by downregulating miR-142-5p, thereby enhancing the immune escape capability of tumor cells [57, 60]. Overexpression of miR-142-5p effectively reverses this process and inhibits the growth of transplanted tumors [25]. These findings comprehensively disclose multiple immune escape pathways regulated by non-coding RNA in cervical cancer, offering important theoretical foundations and potential therapeutic targets for developing novel strategies in non-coding RNA-based immunotherapy.

After literature retrieval and analysis, although there have been many achievements in the related research fields of miRNA and cervical cancer, there are still many difficulties, for example, the barrier between in vitro and in vivo models: In vitro models, miR-200cits EMT (reduces the migration rate by 57%), but overexpression induces anti-therapeutic responses in mouse models. Organoid models need to be developed to simulate the tumor environment [68].

In addition, the difficulties in clinical transformation are (1) the efficacy of nanocarriers. Currently used nanocarriers, such as liposomes, keep the retention time at the cervical site no more than 6 h (while 24 h in the colon cancer model). Mucosal adhesive carriers, such as nanoparticles modified with chitosan, can extend the retention time at the cervical site to 12 h, but their efficacy still needs to be improved [69]. (2) The challenges of personalized treatment and individualized medical care: First, regarding the editing methods for the reactivity of HPV subtypes, a review indicates that the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology targeting HPV16/18 specifically silences the E6/E7 genes, restores the functions of p53 and pRb, thereby reversing the abnormal expression of miR-200c. Thus providing a new direction for personalized treatment targeting HPV subtypes [67]. Furthermore, the challenge of host genetic factors influencing individualized medicine holds that to improve the treatment plan, it is necessary to integrate genomic (such as SNP analysis), transcriptomic, and clinical data (HPV typing). For example, polymorphisms that increase aminopeptidase activity are prone to immune diseases, and those that support the inhibition of other ERAP-related diseases with aminopeptidase, such as increased expression of ERAP1 and ERAP2, have an increased risk [65, 66, 70, 71].

Limitation

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of a foundational paper focusing on the role of miRNAs in cervical cancer. It outlines the advancements in this field by conducting a quantitative review of existing scholarly literature, aiming to provide guidance for future academic research. However, it is essential to acknowledge certain limitations. First, the exclusive reliance on the PubMed and Web of Science databases for data collection may introduce publication bias, potentially excluding studies that yield important results but are published in languages other than English. Additionally, various valuable sources of information, such as books, case reports, clinical trials, and meta-analyses, might be overlooked. Since the analysis was finalized in December 2024, several recent studies with significant findings may have been omitted from this review.

Conclusion

This bibliometric analysis offers a systematic and comprehensive overview of research trends and hotspots related to microRNAs (miRNAs) in cervical cancer (CC) from 2010 to 2024. The study underscores a substantial increase in research output, driven by advancements in sequencing technologies and an enhanced understanding of the role of miRNAs in the progression, diagnosis, and treatment of CC. Key findings reveal major contributors, including China, the United States, and prestigious institutions such as Tianjin Medical University, as well as influential journals like PLOS ONE and Molecular Medicine Reports. Keyword analysis highlights miRNA-mediated mechanisms, such as gene expression regulation, cancer cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis, emphasizing their potential as therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.

Despite these advancements, the translation of miRNA research into clinical applications remains limited. The relatively moderate citation rate of articles in this field indicates significant opportunities for further investigation. Future research should focus on clarifying the functional role of specific miRNAs in CC, verifying their efficacy as diagnostic markers, and integrating new research methods to develop miRNA-based treatment approaches. Existing studies have clarified that miRNA in cervical cancer regulates H3K27me through targeted regulation (such as miR-195 regulating H3K27me; Now, miR-144 affects proliferation, migration, and immune escape by targeting VEGFA/VEGFC and exosome delivery (such as miR-663b remodeling the tumor microenvironment), and the diagnostic value of plasma miRNA combinations (such as miR-21-5p) and tissue markers (such as miR-200a) has been verified.

However, its clinical application is still limited. A moderate citation rate further indicates the untapped research potential. To bridge this gap, future work should give priority to: (1) Mechanism depth: Clarify the spatiotemporal dynamics of miRNA regulation (for example, single-cell analysis of miRNA networks during EMT). (2) Clinical integration: Develop targeted delivery systems (e.g., mucosal adhesion nanoparticles/exosome carriers) and validate miRNA panels in multi-ethnic cohorts. (3) Standardization: Establish a unified testing protocol through international alliances, especially in areas where hpv subtypes have been identified. (4) Therapeutic innovation: Accelerate mirNa-based precision treatment through multi-center trials targeting high-incidence populations. Active cooperation in these aspects will be the key to promoting mirNA-driven precision medicine for cervical cancer.

Abbreviations

CC

Cervical Cancer

miRNA

MicroRNA

HPV

Human Papillomavirus

WOS

Web of Science

MSP

Methylation-Specific PCR

IGFBP7

Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 7

EMT

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

lncRNA

Long Non-coding RNA

circRNA

Circular RNA

RT-PCR

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

ISH

In Situ Hybridization

RPA

Recombinase Polymerase Amplification

MDT

Multidisciplinary Team

CACA

Chinese Anti-Cancer Association

CSCO

Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology

Author contributions

Data curation, C.X., Y.X.; writing—original draft, C.X.; software, C.X.; writing—review & editing, C.X. and G.W.; resources, G.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the Yunnan Province, Science and Technology Department of Yunnan Province (grant number 2025Y1140); the University Affiliated College, Key Construction Disciplines, 2021–2024, host, in research, 180,000; and the Joint Special Project of Local Universities of Yunnan Province (grant number 202001BA070001-156);Dali City Industrial Information and Science and Technology Bureau on the Dali City 2024 Science and Technology Plan project (grant number 2024KBG145).

Data availability

Data is provided within the manuscript or supplementary information files.

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Given that all data originated from online databases, patients' written informed consent was secured. Moreover, our research relied on open-source data, eliminating any pertinent ethical concerns.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.