Research Trends of Hepatic Stellate Cells in Hepatoma: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study aims to delineate the global landscape, knowledge structure, and emerging trends of research on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in hepatoma from 2009 to 2023 using bibliometric methods. We retrieved 510 relevant publications from the Web of Science Core Collection to analyse annual growth, country/region distribution, key contributors, and collaboration networks. The results show a significant increase in annual publications since 2018, with China, the United States, and Japan emerging as the primary research forces, and China leading in publication volume. Citation analysis indicates that the United States has the greatest research impact. Keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis revealed core research themes, such as liver fibrosis, tumour microenvironment, and apoptosis, while identifying emerging hotspots like gene therapy and nanotechnology. The collaboration network exhibits close-knit cooperation within existing teams but a need for strengthening new international and interdisciplinary partnerships. This study systematically maps the knowledge domain of HSC research in hepatoma, offering data-driven insights for future research directions and international collaboration.