Research into muscle pain caused by cancer has grown steadily over the past decade, with published studies peaking in 2023. A bibliometric analysis published in the journal Medicine in June 2026 reviewed nearly a thousand studies from 2015 to 2024 to map where the field has been and where it is heading.
The study, which analyzed 909 valid publications including 671 original articles and 238 reviews, drew its data from the Web of Science Core Collection. Researchers used software tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the bibliometrix package in R to identify patterns in authorship, institutional contributions, journal influence, and keyword clusters across the decade.
China and the United States were the two largest contributors to the field during that period. Most of the most productive individual authors were based in China, and the analysis found they formed a close collaboration network. The journal Medicine published the most articles on the subject with 77, while Cancers followed with 31. In terms of influence, The Lancet accumulated 1,990 citations and the journal Pain accumulated 974 citations from work related to cancer muscle pain.
The number of articles published each year rose consistently throughout the study period, reaching a high of 148 publications in 2023. The authors noted that this growth reflects increasing clinical attention to muscle pain as a distinct and significant problem for cancer patients, separate from other forms of cancer-related pain.
Keyword clustering analysis identified four main research areas that dominated the literature. The first centered on basic science and clinical management of cancer-related muscle pain. The second focused on the psychological state and quality of life of patients living with that pain. The third examined the safety and effectiveness of treatments. The fourth addressed comprehensive management strategies that coordinate multiple types of care.
Cancer-related muscle pain is a significant clinical problem. It can result from the cancer itself, from treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, or from the physical deconditioning that comes with prolonged illness. It affects patients across a wide range of cancer types and can reduce mobility, disrupt sleep, and severely limit daily functioning. Despite its prevalence, it has historically received less research attention than other cancer pain categories.
The study's authors said future research should focus on strengthening international cooperation, improving study quality, and deepening understanding of the mechanisms behind cancer muscle pain. They also identified comprehensive pain management and patient quality of life as priority areas for coming years.
The analysis provides a structured overview of a decade of scientific work and is intended to help researchers and clinicians identify gaps and set priorities for the next phase of study in this area.
