Research trends of selective internal radiation therapy for liver cancer: a bibliometric analysis

Liver cancer is a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) for liver cancer has garnered increasing attention. This study aims to comprehensively describe the current status, hotspots and trends of SIRT.

Publications from January 1, 1994, to May 31, 2024, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, the Bibliometrix package from R software, and an online analytical platform were used for knowledge mapping analysis and visualization.

A total of 2046 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. The number of publications related to SIRT for liver cancer has been continuously increasing, particularly since 2005. The United States led in publications, and a strong collaboration network was observed among countries, particularly within Europe and America. The Northwestern University had the highest number of publications in the field of SIRT. Co-citation analysis identified "predictive dosimetry" and "atezolizumab" as current focal points within the field. High-frequency keywords include "transarterial radioembolization", "Y90 microspheres", "hepatocellular carcinoma", while recent citation bursts are predominantly centered on "lung shunt fraction," "tumor dose," "systemic therapy," "radiation segmentectomy," "Holmium-166," etc. CONCLUSION: As a local treatment, SIRT exhibits significant promise for its future role in the management of hepatic malignancies. Numerous studies on SIRT are actively in progress. Our study suggests that radiation segmentectomy may emerge as an important treatment in the future. Moreover, personalized dosimetry, the combination of SIRT with immunotherapy, and the development of novel radioactive agents are identified as pivotal areas for future research.