Global research trends in Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer: a bibliometric and visual analysis

Background Fusobacterium nucleatum ( F. nucleatum ) is increasingly recognized as a key pathobiont in colorectal cancer (CRC), driving tumor progression through immune evasion, inflammation, and metabolic reprogramming. Nevertheless, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on F. nucleatum and CRC remains a gap in the current research landscape. Here, we integrate bibliometric trend analysis with a narrative synthesis of key mechanistic insights. Unlike traditional narrative reviews, this study systematically quantifies global research trends, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution using integrated bibliometric tools (CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix). Methods This study employed bibliometric analysis to explore the current status of research related to F. nucleatum and CRC. Publications from 2000 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) and Scopus. We used VOSviewer, CiteSpace and Bibliometrix to visualize countries, institutions, authors, keywords, journals and references. Statistical analysis was conducted using Microsoft Office Excel. Results The annual number of publications and their relative percentages concerning F. nucleatum and CRC exhibited a steady upward trend from 2009 to 2025, with China (n=708), the United States (n=584), and Italy(n=119) dominating the field. Harvard University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University emerged as leading institutions, while Yu Jun and Shuji Ogino were the most prolific authors. Keyword analysis identified 7 clusters. The most popular journal in this field is Gut. Limitations include potential selection bias from using only two databases (WOSCC and Scopus) and restriction to English-language publications. Conclusion Our research provides a comprehensive overview of the research trends and key focal areas in the study of F. nucleatum and CRC. The analysis results show that the annual publication volume in this field has steadily increased, indicating that researchers’ attention to this topic has grown continuously. Future research directions suggested by the literature include further exploration of F. nucleatum -targeted therapies, biomarker validation, and multi-omics approaches, although these remain at an early stage.