Current Trends in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Research for Osteosarcoma from 2005 to 2024: A Bibliometric Study

Abstract

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent and aggressive primary bone cancer in children and adolescents and remains a major contributor to cancer-related mortality in this age group. Despite advances in chemotherapy and surgery, survival outcomes have shown limited improvement, particularly in patients with metastatic or recurrent disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), characterized by their multipotency and ability to modulate the tumor microenvironment, have consequently attracted increasing attention as potential therapeutic targets. This bibliometric study evaluated the development of MSC research in osteosarcoma from 2005 to 2024. Relevant publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed using CiteSpace, GraphPad Prism, and Biblioshiny to identify publication trends, major contributors, research hotspots, and emerging themes. Publication output increased steadily over the study period, with a marked rise in research activity after 2010. Prominent themes included MSC–tumor microenvironment interactions, osteogenic differentiation, MSC-based therapeutic strategies, exosomes, bone regeneration, and emerging clinical applications. The findings demonstrate the growing interdisciplinary integration of stem cell biology, oncology, regenerative medicine, and materials science in osteosarcoma research. This study maps the evolving knowledge landscape and highlights future research priorities, particularly the need for mechanistic, translational, and clinical investigations to clarify the therapeutic potential and context-dependent effects of MSCs in osteosarcoma.