Bibliometric and visual analysis of global research trends and frontiers in the tumor microenvironment and immune escape

Abstract

Research on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune evasion profoundly influences tumor progression and therapeutic efficacy. Despite rapid growth in related studies, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis to systematically reveal their knowledge structure, research hotspots, and evolutionary trends. Using CiteSpace, we conducted a multidimensional bibliometric and visual analysis of TME- and IE-related literature retrieved from the Science Citation Index (Web of Science). Among 2727 relevant publications published in 654 academic journals, contributions came from 2974 institutions across 87 countries/regions. The number of publications and citations increased annually, forming an interdisciplinary collaboration network. China (1430 publications, 52.44%) and the United States (693 publications, 25.41%) dominated the field, with the most prolific institution (Fudan University, 133 publications) and author (Wang Wei, 21 publications) both based in China. Close collaborations were observed among countries, institutions, and core authors. Frontiers in Immunology published the most articles (4.4%), while Cancer Research ranked first in co-citations (1894 times), establishing them as the 2 most influential journals in tumor microenvironment and immune escape research. Keyword analysis revealed multifaceted research themes (Q = 0.7486), with the top 13 clusters encompassing multiple dimensions, including mechanism research, clinical treatment, and specific tumor type analysis. Hot topics varied across developmental stages. This study is the first to integrate a multidimensional visual analysis of the knowledge landscape in tumor microenvironment and immune escape research. The field has exhibited rapid growth, with diversified research content and domains. Investigations into underlying mechanisms remain enduring, while tumor-specific analyses and immunotherapy research, alongside clinical applications, have emerged as key focal points and challenges. The findings further highlight the translational potential of combined therapeutic strategies targeting TME-immune interactions.