Immunotherapy and liver cancer research trends and the 100 most cited articles: A bibliometric analysis

Issue title: Special Section: Enabling Technologies for Healthcare 5.0

Guest editors: Chi Lin, Chang Wu Yu and Ning Wang

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kong, Yang^{a; b; c; d; e; f} | Wang, Yizhi^{a; b; c; d; e; f} | Yang, Qifan^{a; b; c; d; e; f} | Ye, Song^{a; b; c; d; e; f; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, School of Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China | [b] Key Laboratory, Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China | [c] Research Center, Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China | [d] Clinical Medicine Innovation Center, Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China | [e] Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China | [f] Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Song Ye, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Bibliometric analysis of liver cancer research, particularly in immunotherapy, reveals crucial insights. The US leads in liver cancer mortality but ranks fifth globally. OBJECTIVE: Scopus database analysis identified 2,349 papers, with the top 100 ranging from 127 to 4,959 citations. Notably, “Microenvironmental Regulation of Tumours Progression and Metastasis” in the Journal of Nature Medicine garnered the highest citations. METHODS: Journals like the Journal of Hepatology, Hepatology, and Nature Reports Clinical Oncology contributed significantly. Understanding molecular mechanisms and prognostic indicators is paramount for advancing combination therapies. RESULTS:For better patient outcomes, research trends in liver cancer immunotherapy point to improved treatment protocols, knowledge of the tumor microenvironment, combining therapies, predicting disease course, international cooperation, sophisticated surgical techniques, early detection, oncolytic virotherapy, and patient-centered care. CONCLUSIONS: This research underscores immunotherapy’s pivotal role and encourages further exploration, offering valuable insights into liver cancer treatment trends.

Keywords: Liver cancer, immunotherapy, bibliometric analysis, research trends, oncology

DOI: 10.3233/THC-241111

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 32, no. 6, pp. 5141-5155, 2024