Global research landscape of PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals: a two-decade multidimensional bibliometric analysis

This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research in prostate-specific-membrane-antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiopharmaceuticals to map the field's development, identify key contributors, and determine emerging research directions. PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals have revolutionized prostate cancer theranostics, yet comprehensive bibliometric analyses examining the global research landscape remain absent. Understanding research trends, collaborative networks, and emerging directions is crucial for optimizing resource allocation and guiding future development in this rapidly evolving field.

This study examined 3,249 publications related to PSMA-targeted radiopharmaceuticals from 2005 to 2025 using the Web of Science Core Collection database. Data visualization and analysis were conducted using VOSviewer (version 1.6.19), CiteSpace (version 6.2.R3), and the biblioshiny R package.

The analysis included 77 countries, 3,350 institutions, and 13,976 researchers across 430 journals. Germany leads with 869 publications and 40,615 citations, with Technical University Munich identified as the most influential institution (n = 199). The European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging has the highest number of publications (n = 316), while Journal of Nuclear Medicine has the most co-citations (14,245). Matthias Eiber is the most prolific author with 153 publications and an H-index of 57, while A. Afshar-Oromieh has the highest number of co-citations (n = 2248). The citation patterns showed strong growth after 2018 (surpassing 14,000 citations by 2024), reflecting the field's impact. The current research hotspots mainly include "⁶⁸ Ga-PSMA-PET/CT diagnostic imaging", "¹⁷⁷Lu-based radioligand therapy", "translational clinical applications", and "AI-driven technological innovation". Future research emphasizes "AI-enhanced theranostic optimization", "immunotherapy-radiopharmaceutical combinations", and "precision biomarker-guided patient stratification".

This analysis describes the evolution of PSMA radiopharmaceuticals research patterns and identifies emerging research directions that may inform future precision oncology development.