Advancements and current trends in tumor treating fields: a scientometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biophysics
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is an approved, noninvasive cancer treatment for glioblastoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma.
• TTFields therapy has garnered significant research attention due to its demonstrated efficacy.
• The field is characterized by ongoing clinical trials and preclinical studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scientometric analysis of TTFields research.
• To identify publication trends, leading countries/institutions, and key research areas.
• To map the current research landscape and emerging hot topics in TTFields therapy.

Main Methods:

• Scientometric analysis of publication data.
• Analysis of publication and citation trends over time.
• Mapping of countries, institutions, authors, journals, and references.
• Keyword analysis to identify research themes.

Main Results:

• Publication numbers remain high and stable, with a significant increase in citations.
• The United States and Israel lead in publications, followed by Germany and Switzerland.
• Research primarily focuses on clinical applications and antitumor mechanisms.
• Glioblastoma is the main focus of clinical trials, with other cancers also under investigation.

Conclusions:

• TTFields therapy is a rapidly growing research area with increasing global impact.
• Current research is bifurcated between clinical applications and understanding underlying antitumor mechanisms.
• Future research directions likely include expanding TTFields applications to other cancer types beyond glioblastoma.