Lu Yan, Yibin Liu, Zhiqiang Zhang, Feida Du

Department of Gynecology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Yibin Liu, Department of Gynecology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China, Email lybykd24@outlook.com

Purpose: Immunotherapy-based treatment has shown significant clinical potential in various cancers. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the immunotherapy landscape in ovarian cancer over the last decade, identifying leading trends, influential contributors, and key areas of development.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection for publications on immunotherapy drugs used in ovarian cancer between 2014 and 2024. Analytical tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R-based Bibliometrix package were employed to visualize trends, collaborations, and major contributions.
Results: Our dataset of 2123 publications from 2014 to 2024 highlights a rise and stabilization in publication output, peaking in 2022. Leading journals included Cancers and Frontiers in Oncology. Although a recent decline was observed, it may reflect a shift toward refining existing therapies rather than initiating new studies. The United States and China were major contributors, with institutions such as Harvard University, University of California, and Fudan University leading in output. European institutions like Charité Berlin and KU Leuven also played prominent roles, with key researchers including Sehouli J, Vergote I, and Scambia G. Highly cited studies included The Cancer Genome Atlas, which identified critical genetic mutations in high-grade serous ovarian cancer, and landmark trials exploring the addition of bevacizumab to standard therapies. These works emphasize ongoing challenges such as genetic heterogeneity and resistance, driving research toward biomarker-based and personalized therapeutic strategies. Thematic clustering revealed a progression from foundational treatment trials to precision medicine, with focus areas including platinum resistance and neoadjuvant therapies.
Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis maps the growing research interest in immunotherapy-based approaches for ovarian cancer, highlighting the field’s collaborative and multidisciplinary nature. The findings provide a foundation for identifying influential themes and guiding future investigations into resistance mechanisms and personalized treatment strategies.

Keywords: ovarian cancer, immunotherapy, bibliometric analysis, publication trends, network analysis