Risk factors for breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women: a bibliometric study

Abstract

Breast cancer is a significant healthcare challenge, and despite advancements in treatment, the risk of recurrence remains a critical concern, particularly for postmenopausal women. Understanding the factors that contribute to this risk is essential for improving monitoring and prevention strategies, ultimately enhancing long-term care and disease management for this patient population. The study analyzes scholarly literature on recurrence patterns in postmenopausal Caucasian women with prior breast cancer, highlighting the potential for innovative insights to reduce breast cancer mortality and improve long-term survival. We used R software and the "R-Bibliometrix" package to analyze postmenopausal breast cancer recurrence. Data was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database to identify relevant documents and highlight significant collaborative efforts and commonly used terminology. The extensive analysis included 500 articles authored by 3,204 individuals from 195 distinct sources, all published between 2010 and 2024. It specifically focused on assessing the risk of breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women. The results underscored several critical factors influencing the risk of recurrence, encompassing hormonal factors, lifestyle influences, the effectiveness of various types of adjuvant therapy, and the role of genetic factors. In conclusion, the research highlights the multifaceted nature of factors contributing to breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women. We believe that this study not only enhances the current understanding of the risk of breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women but also provides clear directions for future research and improvements in clinical practice and health policy.

Keywords: bibliometric analysis; breast cancer recurrence; breast cancer risk factors; menopausal women; postmenopausal breast cancer.

Figure 1

Data extraction from the WoS core collection database. Source: data processed by the author.

Figure 2

The most cited documents Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 3

The evolution and dynamics of the sources regarding the number of annual appearances Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 4

The most relevant sources regarding the number of occurrences. Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 5

The evolution and dynamics of the sources regarding the number of occurrences Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 6

Histograph Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 7

The main collaboration network of authors from the period 2010-2024. Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 8

Authors’ production in the period 2010-2024. Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 9

Map of world collaborations on countries prolific in breast cancer research Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 10

Word Cloud regarding the most important words used in keywords. Source: own processing through the R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 11

Treemap of the top fifteen words used in terms of frequency. Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 12

Themes and thematic areas regarding the relationship recurrences among postmenopausal women with prior breast cancer (CR- Cited References, AU- Author and DE-Thematic domain) Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.

Figure 13

The critical path of the most productive research affiliations, period 2010-2024. Source: own processing through R program, Biblioshiny application.