Relevance of the Human Microbiome in Breast Cancer: A Global Bibliometric and Visual Analysis

Background: The human microbiome is a treasure trove of biological importance that plays countless roles in the metabolism, immunity, and overall health of the host. Conversely, it actively contributes to the emergence of numerous pathological conditions, such as cancer. The last 10 years has seen a great deal of exploration and investigation into the mysterious relationship between breast cancer and the human microbiome. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to explore the role of microbiome in breast cancer, identifying key research trends and potential microbial markers.Methodology: The Web of Science (WoS) database was queried between 2013 and July 10, 2023. Analysis was carried out using R for papers with the terms "Breast Cancer," "Bacteria," and "Inflammation," and a total of 339 articles published in the last decade were reviewed.Results: After 2019, there was a rise in the number of publications. The United States was the most dominant and had the highest level of collaborations. Breast cancer, inflammation, bacteria, dysbiosis, and the microbiome were the most frequently used keywords. With 11 papers published, "Cancers" was the most cited source for studies on breast cancer etiology, pathophysiology, and inflammation caused by bacteria.Conclusion: Despite that microbial signatures have been established for various subtypes of breast cancer, the crux of healthy microbiome yet needs to be detected. This review represents a modest attempt to compile the body of knowledge regarding the relationship between breast cancer and the human microbiome.