Mapping the evolution and frontiers of Translational Lung Cancer Research: a bibliometric analysis and literature review

Background and objective: While bibliometric studies of single journals have been conducted, bibliometric mapping has not yet been used to analyze the literature published by the Translational Lung Cancer Research (TLCR). This study aimed to comprehensively review all publications of TLCR from its inception to 2024 and provide a detailed overview of its main publication characteristics.

Methods: This study analyzed publications from TLCR spanning 2012 to 2024 using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the 'Bibliometrix' package in R. Descriptive bibliometric methods were employed to examine the trends and dynamics in TLCR literature, identifying leading authors, institutions, and countries in terms of publication output. Furthermore, bibliometric maps were generated to visualize key research topics and terms, highlighting their evolution over time.

Key content and findings: The analysis included 2,032 publications in TLCR from 2012 to 2023 and 121 publications in 2024. The study revealed a positive trend in literature production, although there has been a slight recent decline in the number of articles published in the TLCR. China emerged as the most productive country (n=587), with Shanghai Jiao Tong University being the most productive institution (n=127). Jianxing He from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University was identified as the most prolific author (n=75). The top ten most cited articles primarily address treatment strategies, recurrence, immune-related toxicities, global trends in mortality, and mechanisms of resistance, reflecting the broad scope and critical importance of ongoing research in lung cancer. Research published in TLCR predominantly targeted old adults with non-small cell lung cancer (n=879), with significant emphasis on overall survival (n=507), cancer staging (n=406), and cancer immunotherapy.

Conclusions: This study reviewed TLCR publications from 2012 to 2024, identifying key trends, top contributors, and research focuses. Future research directions in TLCR might focus on first-line treatment, ensartinib, and advanced data analysis methods such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) to revolutionize lung cancer research and practice. In conclusion, this study underscores TLCR's significant contributions to lung cancer research and provides valuable insights into its evolution and future directions.