Global research trends in immunotherapy for glioma: a comprehensive visualization and bibliometric analysis

Hong-Yu Zhang; Han-Yong Yu; Guo-Xu Zhao; Xin-Zhan Jiang; Ge Gao; Bao-Jian Wei

doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1273634

Global research trends in immunotherapy for glioma: a comprehensive visualization and bibliometric analysis

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Oct 5:14:1273634. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1273634. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Hong-Yu Zhang¹, Han-Yong Yu¹, Guo-Xu Zhao², Xin-Zhan Jiang¹, Ge Gao³, Bao-Jian Wei⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
² Department of Medical Imaging, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China.
³ Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China.
⁴ School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, Shandong, China.

Abstract

Background: Glioma is a prevalent and lethal brain malignancy; despite current treatment options, the prognosis remains poor. Therefore, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. However, research trends and hotspots in glioma immunotherapy have not been systematically analyzed. This study aimed to elucidate global research trends and knowledge structures regarding immunotherapy for glioma using bibliometric analysis.

Methods: Publications related to immunotherapy for glioma from 2000-2023 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection database (WoSCC). We conducted quantitative analysis and visualization of research trends using various tools, including VOSviewer (1.6.18), CiteSpace (5.7 R3), Microsoft Charticulator, and the Bibliometrix package in R.

Results: A total of 4910 publications were included. The number of annual publications exhibited an obvious upward trend since 2019. The USA was the dominant country in terms of publication output and centrality. Frontiers in Immunology published the most articles. Harvard Medical School ranked first in productivity among institutions. Sampson, John H. Ph.D. is the most prolific author in the field with 88 articles and a total of 7055 citations. Clinical Cancer Research has the largest total number and impact factor. Analysis of keywords showed immunotherapy, glioblastoma, immunotherapy, and clinical trials as hot topics. The tumor microenvironment, cell death pathways, chimeric antigen receptor engineering, tumor-associated macrophages, and nivolumab treatment represent indicating shifts in the direction of future glioma immunotherapy development.

Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis systematically delineated global landscapes and emerging trends in glioma immunotherapy research. This study highlighted the prominence of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T), Programmed Death-1 (PD-1), and nivolumab in current glioma immunotherapy research. The growing emphasis on specific neoantigens and prognostic tumor markers suggests potential avenues for future exploration. Furthermore, the data underscores the importance of strengthened international collaboration in advancing the field.

Keywords: CAR-T; Citespace; VOSviewer; bibliometric; glioma; immunotherapy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bibliometrics
Glioma* / therapy
Humans
Immunotherapy
Nivolumab
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen*
Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

Nivolumab
Receptors, Chimeric Antigen

Grants and funding

The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by Research program of Medical and Health Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Shandong province [No. 202103070653].