A Metrology Informatics Investigation of Conversion Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2014-2023

With advancements in drug therapy, local treatments, and evolving concepts, conversion therapy has shown benefits for patients initially diagnosed with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Over the past 10 years, the conversion therapy field has accumulated a vast amount of underutilized data, necessitating in-depth bibliometric evaluation.

This cross-sectional retrospective study collected a substantial amount of research on conversion therapy published between 2014 and 2023, adhering to strict search criteria. The primary outcomes were publication volume, citation count, and interstudy relationships. Comprehensive analysis was conducted using unsupervised hierarchical clustering, spatiotemporal analysis, regression model, and the Walktrap algorithm.

Over the past decade, conversion therapy has demonstrated significant progress, with an annual growth rate of 23.0%. Post-2020, these metrics saw a marked increase, reaching 116 publications and 1943 citations by 2023. Cluster analysis grouped 244 authors into 17 clusters, highlighting early and sustained contributions from Western authors compared with later-emerging Eastern authors. Research characteristics in HCC conversion therapy were classified into 5 clusters, with Cluster 2 (Target Therapy and Immunotherapy) emerging as a new focus. Thematic analysis categorized research characteristics into 4 quadrants, identifying "immune checkpoint inhibitor" and "combination therapy" as highly relevant and rapidly developing themes, while "hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy" and "radioembolization" show high potential for future research.

This study highlights key contributors and emerging trends and provides important predictions for future research directions. To achieve effective conversion therapy for HCC, researchers may prioritize immunotherapy and locoregional treatments such as hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy or radioembolization.