Background: Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have attracted sustained attention in oncology due to their functional plasticity and multifaceted interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Bibliometric analysis provides a quantitative framework to evaluate the evolution, maturity, and intellectual structure of a research field, as well as shifts in thematic emphasis over time. Despite the rapid expansion of MSC-related cancer research, a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic evaluation of this domain has not previously been undertaken.

Methods: Publications related to mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in oncology were retrieved from the Web of Science™ Core Collection. Bibliometric indicators, including publication output, citation performance, country and journal contributions, and cancer-type focus, were systematically analyzed. VOSviewer software was employed to construct keyword co-occurrence networks and identify major research clusters and temporal trends.

Results: A total of 9,927 publications were included in the analysis. Annual publication output demonstrated an exponential growth pattern (e = 0.97), indicating sustained expansion of the field. The United States and the People’s Republic of China contributed the highest number of publications; however, when adjusted for population size and citation impact per article, Singapore, Luxembourg, and Switzerland emerged as the most influential contributors. Over the past 15 years, 74% of publications appeared in cancer-specific journals. Among common malignancies, breast cancer accounted for the largest proportion of disease-focused studies (42%). Journals with a primary emphasis on basic science published the majority of articles (44%). Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed three principal thematic clusters: (i) MSC characterization and nomenclature, (ii) clinical and translational applications, and (iii) molecular mechanisms and functional roles. Recent publications showed a marked shift toward molecular and mechanistic investigations.

Conclusions: Research on mesenchymal stromal/stem cells in oncology has undergone rapid and sustained growth over the past two decades. The increasing presence of MSC-focused studies in oncology-specific journals reflects broad acceptance of this research area within the cancer community. While basic and mechanistic studies currently dominate the literature, the findings highlight a clear opportunity for further development of translational and clinically oriented investigations.