Research hotspots and trends in tumor vaccine adjuvants: A bibliometric analysis from 2010 to 2024

Tumor vaccine adjuvants play a critical role in enhancing anti-tumor immune responses, and it is essential to summarize their research hotspots and future trends. This study retrieved and evaluated 6,177 publications on tumor vaccine adjuvants from the Web of Science Core Collection between 2010 and 2024. Most publications originated from the United States and China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences being the most productive institution. George E. Peoples published 29 articles, and the journal Vaccine had the highest publication frequency. Keyword co-occurrence analysis reflects a research paradigm shift from theoretical exploration to delivery system optimization and clinical translation: earlier studies focused on fundamental immune mechanisms (e.g. "dendritic cell," "immune response," "antigen"), while recent research has turned toward translational technologies (e.g. "drug delivery," "nanoparticles"). Future studies may focus on optimizing delivery systems, exploring novel adjuvants, advancing clinical translation, and further elucidating the mechanisms by which adjuvants enhance immune responses.