Nihal UREN
Experimental and Applied Medical Science - 2026;7(1):22-40
Purpose: The cGAS -STING pathway is a central component of the innate immune system by detecting cytoplasmic DNA and initiating antitumor immunity. This study aims to identify research trends, prominent themes, and existing knowledge gaps by analyzing the literature on the role of the cGAS -STING pathway in cancer using bibliometric methods. Methods: On May 4, 2025, an extensive search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database using the terms "cGAS -STING Pathway" AND "Cancer." Publications from 2015 to 2025 were analyzed; in terms of annual trend of publications and citations, ınternational collaboration network of countries, highly cited articles, author performance analysis, and the keyword co -occurrence. Network visualizations were generated using VOSviewer software. Results: The search identified 827 relevant articles. Annual publication counts showed a steady increase, peaking in 2024. The People's Republic of China ranked first with 561 publications and 11,946 citations, followed by the United States with 178 publications and 9,957 citations. The majority of articles appeared in high -impact journals, which also published the most highly cited studies in this field. Recent research has increasingly focused on the role and therapeutic potential of the cGAS -STING pathway in cancer treatment. Conclusion: From 2015 to 2025, research on the cGAS -STING pathway in oncology has expanded substantially, with growing emphasis on therapeutic strategies involving innate immunity. These trends reflect heightened scholarly interest in the pathway's function in cancer immunotherapy and underscore its potential as a promising target for future research and drug development.
